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Published April 15, 2022 | Accepted Version + Published
Journal Article Open

Propagators in the correlated worldline theory of quantum gravity

Abstract

Starting from a formulation of correlated worldline (CWL) theory in terms of functional integrals over paths, we define propagators for particles and matter fields in this theory. We show that the most natural formulation of CWL theory involves a rescaling of the generating functional for the theory; correlation functions then simplify, and all loops containing gravitons disappear from perturbative expansions. The spacetime metric obeys the Einstein equation, sourced by all of the interacting CWL paths. The matter paths are correlated by gravitation, thereby violating quantum mechanics for large masses. We derive exact results for the generating functional and the matter propagator, and for linearized weak-field theory. For the example of a two-path experiment, we derive the CWL matter propagator, and show how the results compare with conventional quantum theory and with semiclassical gravity. We also exhibit the structure of low-order perturbation theory for the CWL matter propagator.

Additional Information

© 2022 American Physical Society. (Received 1 December 2020; accepted 23 February 2022; published 12 April 2022) We are very grateful to both A. O. Barvinsky and Y. Chen for extensive conversations regarding this work. We also thank M. Aspelmeyer, C. Delisle, R. Penrose, W. G. Unruh, and B. Whaley for discussions, and Y. Chen and K. S. Thorne for partial support. The work was supported in Vancouver by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and in Caltech by the Simons Foundation (Grant No. 568762) and the National Science Foundation (Award No. PHY-1733907). J. W.-G. was also supported by a Burke fellowship in Caltech and a NSERC PGS-D award in Vancouver.

Attached Files

Published - PhysRevD.105.084015.pdf

Accepted Version - 2011.14242.pdf

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Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 23, 2023