CRYSTALLINE GRAVITY

Abstract

Matter interacting classically with gravity in 3+1 dimensions usually gives rise to a continuum of degrees of freedom, so that, in any attempt to quantize the theory, ultraviolet divergences are nearly inevitable. Here, we investigate a theory that only displays a finite number of degrees of freedom in compact sections of space-time. In finite domains, one has only exact, analytic solutions. This is achieved by limiting ourselves to straight pieces of string, surrounded by locally flat sections of space-time. Next, we suggest replacing in the string holonomy group, the Lorentz group by a discrete subgroup, which turns space-time into a 4-dimensional crystal with defects.