Quantum Field Theory of Open Spin Networks and New Spin Foam Models

Abstract

We describe how a spin-foam state sum model can be reformulated as a quantum field theory of spin networks, such that the Feynman diagrams of that field theory are the spin-foam amplitudes. In the case of open spin networks, we obtain a new type of state-sum models, which we call the matter spin foam models. In this type of state-sum models, one labels both the faces and the edges of the dual two-complex for a manifold triangulation with the simple objects from a tensor category. In the case of Lie groups, such a model corresponds to a quantization of a theory whose fields are the principal bundle connection and the sections of the associated vector bundles. We briefly discuss the relevance of the matter spin foam models for quantum gravity and for topological quantum field theories.