Speaker
Prof.
Max Niedermaier
(University of Pittsburgh)
Description
The talk examines possible answers to the question raised in functional integral based formulations of Quantum Gravity. These include Lorentzian signature perturbation theory and non-perturbative settings starting from the Euclidean propagation kernel. In the latter framework the "no-boundary" proposal is reexamined in relation to the (non-)normalizability of ground state wave function(s). Finally, noting that even after a complete gauge fixing residual global invariances may survive, their role in triggering vacuum degeneracy is outlined.
Primary author
Prof.
Max Niedermaier
(University of Pittsburgh)
