Rigorous construction of a Spin Foam Model for Lorentzian BF theory and Gravity: The foundations

Abstract

Spin foam models for gravity or BF theory can be constructed by path integral formulation of the classical discrete models formulated on simplicial manifolds. Using this, we discuss the rigorous construction of Lorentzian spin foam models for gravity and BF theory based on the Gelfand-Naimark theory of the representations of SL(2,C). First we construct the simplex amplitude for the BF SL(2,C) model. Next we discuss the implementation of the Barrett-Crane constraints on this model to derive the spin foam model for gravity. The non-trivial constraints are the cross simplicity constraints which state that the sum of the bivectors associated to any two triangles of a quantum tetrahedron is simple. We do not complete the construction of the model, but ultimately we derive an equation corresponding to the cross simplicity constraints that the Lorentzian spin foam model of gravity has to satisfy. In the appendix we give a simple derivation of the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients for SL(2,C).