Balls in Boxes and Quantum Gravity

Abstract

Four dimensional simplicial gravity has been studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations for some time, the main outcome of the studies being that the model undergoes a discontinuous phase transition between an elongated and a crumpled phase when one changes the curvature (Newton) coupling. In the crumpled phase there are singular vertices growing extensively with the volume of the system whereas the elongated phase resembles a branched-polymer. We have postulated that this behaviour is a manifestation of the constrained-mean-field scenario as realised in the Branched Polymer or Balls-in-Boxes model. These models share all the features of 4D simplicial gravity except that they exhibit a continuous phase transition. We note here that this defect can be remedied by a suitable choice of ensemble.