Abstract
Abstract
Gravitational instantons are solutions to the four-dimensional Einstein equations in Riemannian signature which give complete metrics and asymptotically ‘look-like’ flat space, in a sense made precise in the chapter. Gravitational instantons cannot usually be analytically continued to Lorentzian signature. They are nevertheless physically relevant as they can allow a semi-classical description of the as-yet-unknown theory of quantum gravity. Our discussion in this chapter focuses on examples of ALF and ALE instantons, and the connection with hyper-Kähler geometry
Publisher
Oxford University PressOxford
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