The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems

Relation to Other Theories

Contents

Thermodynamic gravity
Non-commutative geometry
Constructive gravity
Renormalizable acausal theories with gravity
Causal sets
Algebraic quantum field theory
Events, trees, histories approach to quantum theory
Canonical quantum gravity / Loop quantum gravity
String theory
Further approaches
The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems contains several new ideas and requires a different angle of approach to many physical concepts. However, some of the ideas and structures are present as well in other approaches to modified gravity / quantum gravity / unification / foundations of quantum theory. Here we discuss some approaches and their conceptual similarities and differences to the Theory of Causal Fermion systems to the best of our knowledge. This is intended to facilitate the conversation with experts in these approaches and in order to explore whether certain insights or ideas can be transferred between the different frameworks. Please do not hesitate to contact us for suggestions for how to improve the presentation of the different theories.

Thermodynamic Gravity

A mesoscopic approach to quantum gravity, based on thermodynamic considerations has been developed by T. Padmanabhan (see for example, here and references therein).

The central idea is that it is irrelevant what the underlying quantum gravitational degrees of freedom are, you merely assume they exist and then try to derive global corrections from it. In order to obtain the field equations, a variation principle on the light cone is derived from a thermodynamic argument. The variation then gives the Einstein field equations on the light cone. Demanding that the stress energy tensor is divergence-free leads to the full Einstein field equations up to a integration constant (the cosmological constant) which has to be determined by observation. It is then claimed that the cosmological constant can be related to the fluctuations in the CMB and the energy density of matter and radiation observed in the universe, in good agreement with observation.

Formulating the variation principle for the Einstein Field equations on the light cone is motivated by the fact that, in this way, the variation principle for gravity becomes invariant under adding a constant to the Lagrangian (this is true for the equations of motion of all other fields in the standard model). Note, however, that this leads to a situation where we have two variation principles that are very different in spirit. There are several parallels with the framework of causal fermion systems. In the continuum limit, all field equations (not only gravity) are derived from an analysis on the light cone. In this way, the conceptional ideas by Padmanabhan are respected while maintaining a single form of the variation principle (in fact, the framework of causal fermion systems does even more, as all fields are derived from the same Lagrangian).

Note that two particular technical features in Padmanabhan’s considerations show up in the CFS framework as well:

  1. Points in the framework of causal fermion systems have a non-zero self separation. Padmanabhan modifies Singh’s world function by adding a non-zero term $\sigma(x,y)^2 = \sigma(x,y)^2 + L^2$, where $\sigma$ is the geodesic distance between $x$ and $y$.
  2. The metric that corresponds to the modified world function is everywhere singular. The space time point operators in the continuum limit of the CFS framework become singular operators.

Over all, there seem to be interesting conceptional and technical parallels between the thermodynamic Gravity approach and the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems.

Non-Commutative Geometry

The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems has a few similarities to Connes’ non-commutative geometry:

  • In both approaches the Dirac operator plays a central role.
  • It is a general idea underlying both approaches that geometry is encoded in operators.

However, there are also major differences:

  • One conceptual difference is that, instead of the Dirac operator as in non-commutative geometry, in the framework of causal fermion systems it is more the “family of occupied wave functions” as encoded in the universal measure which plays the central role.
    More precisely, the difference can be understood as follows:

    • In non-commutative geometry, the key input for the underlying geometrical structure is a $C^*$ algebra represented by operators on a Hilbert space. This algebra holds information about the differential and topological structures of the manifold whereas, roughly speaking, the Dirac operator holds the metric information.

    • For causal fermion systems, the key input is the Hilbert space and the universal measure which lives on a subset of the bounded linear operators on the Hilbert space. Roughly speaking, the operators encode the geometric structure while the support of the measure determines the topology of spacetime.

  • Connes’ spectral action seems to be very different from the causal action principle. Indeed, in non-commutative geometry, the key input for the dynamics is the spectral action which takes the spectrum of the Dirac operator as an input. For a given model, the fermions give the Hilbert space on which the algebras are represented. For a causal fermion systems, however, the dynamics is determined by the spectra of products of operators in the support of the universal measure.
  • So far, non-commutative geometry has been developed mainly on compact Riemannian manifolds. The adaptation or generalization of the concepts to Lorentzian signature is not straightforward (for attempts in this direction see [BB16/1, BB16/2, Fr11, M02, S01]). The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems, on the other hand, was developed for spacetimes with Lorentzian signature. This is also reflected by the causal action principle, which is intimately connected to the causal structure of spacetime.

On a technical level, there are a few more similarities. In order to compute the spectral action (Dixmier trace), one considers the asymptotics of the large eigenvalues as encoded in the behavior of the resolvent near the diagonal. This expansion is the elliptic analog of the light-cone expansion (or, more generally, Hadamard expansion) used for analyzing the causal action in the continuum limit. Moreover, there are a few similarities of how the standard model is described. In non-commutative geometry, in the model by Connes-Chamseddine-Marcolli [CCM06] (see also [CC07] and [BF14]) one prescribes the entire fermionic content of the model in mind. For the standard model, this would be Up, Down, electron, neutrino, a left and a right handed copy of each of them, and then an anti-particle for all of those. This gives 32 fermions in total per generation. Spacetime points are mapped to elements in a non-commutative algebra. The bosonic interactions between the fermions, including the Higgs, can then be derived.

In the framework of causal fermion systems, on the other hand, we assume eight fermionic sectors (one for each quark colour and isospin, one for the leptons and one for the neutrinos). From that, one can derive the standard model gauge fields as emerging phenomena. In the framework of causal fermion systems, each sector automatically contains the anti-particles as well. The framework can describe a Standard Model where the chiral symmetry is broken in the neutrino sector. In the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems, the spactime point operators are in general non-commutative. It is unclear whether this non-commutativity relates in any way to the ideas in non-commutative geometry.

It might be helpful to explore in more detail how these two frameworks relate and where they differ.

Constructive Gravity

Constructive Gravity was developed by Schuller and collaborators (see here for an introduction). The basic idea behind the approach is that if we demand that the evolution problem (Cauchy problem) be well posed (existence of a unique local solution for given initial data), then the structure of the Lagrangian in the matter sector highly constrains the possible form of the Lagrangian in the geometric/gravity sector.

A direct connection with the setting of causal fermion systems does not exist. Nevertheless, ideas and methods from constructive gravity might help to constrain extensions of General Relativity and corresponding matter models within the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems.

Renormalizable Acausal Theories with Gravity

In an approach by Anselmi and collaborators (see for example [AH06]) it is argued that gravity can be made renormalizable if one is willing to introduce microscopic violations of causality. This concept seems to fit to causal fermion systems, because the normalization of the fermionic states gives rise to nonlocal effects on the Compton scale (for details see see [cfs16, Section 2.2]). At present, however, it is not clear if a connection can be made on the technical level.

Causal Sets

Causal Sets were initiated by Sorkin (for an introduction to the ideas see Sorkin or Dowker). It is similar to causal fermion systems on the conceptional level in that it asserts the causal structure to be fundamental. However, the way this assertion is implemented is substantially different from the causal structure of a causal fermion system.

A causal set is defined to be a locally finite partially ordered set, or in other words a set $C$ together with a relation $\prec$, called “precedes”, which satisfy the following axioms:

(1) if $x \prec y$ and $y \prec z$ then $ x \prec z$, $\forall x,y,z \in C$ (transitivity);
(2) if $x \prec y$ and $y \prec x$ then $x = y$  $\forall x,y \in C$ (non-circularity);
(3) for any pair of fixed elements $x$ and $z$ of $C$, the set $\{y|x \prec y \prec z\}$ of elements lying between $x$ and $z$ is finite.

In a causal fermion system, the causal relations are not necessarily transitive except in the continuum limit, and discreteness of spacetime is not required. Furthermore, the set $\mathscr{F}$ on which the causal relations are defined contains a lot more structure. While Sorkin expresses the hope that non gravitational degrees of freedom might be encoded in the causal sets, in the CFS theory this has been proven to be the case.

An interesting parallel, however, is that in both approaches the measure takes a special role. In the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems, it is explicitly introduced as the dynamic entity describing the physical system. In Causal Set Theory, it has to be recovered from “number counting” as the volume element can not be recovered from the causal structure alone. Thus in principle, both theories are compatible with non-Riemannian measures.

Algebraic Quantum Field Theory

Algebraic Quantum Field Theory (aQFT or local quantum field theory; see also the community page) is an approach to Quantum Field Theory, where one starts from the algebra of observables associated to spacetime regions. This has the advantage that it is easier to axiomatize the fundamental ingredients. The Hilbert space and the state, however, come into play only when constructing representations of the algebra (GNS construction).
 
There is no direct relation between aQFT and the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems. Causal fermion systems also give rise to local algebras (see for example [neumann20] for algebras in Minkowski space), but they do not satisfy the causality axiom of aQFT that the operators associated to spatially separated regions commute. Moreover, in the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems, the operator algebras play a less fundamental role and are not taken as the starting point. Instead, one begins with a restricted subset of the self-adjoint operators which are particularly suited for encoding a spacetime geometry. Spacetime points are mapped to operators and causal relations are then defined via their operator products. Commutativity of spacetime point operators only plays a secondary role, as all commuting x,y are either timelike or null separated. Probably, one of the biggest differences is that, in the setting of causal fermion systems, there is no notion of a state on the Hilbert space that would determine the properties of the physical system. Instead, one has a measure on the relevant subset of operators. The choice of the minimizing measure determines a particular physical system in a particular state.
 

Events, Trees, Histories (ETH) Approach to Quantum Theory

The ETH approach developed by Jürg Fröhlich and collaborators (see for example the review [Fr19]) is intended to represent a completion of Quantum Theory enabling one to solve fundamental conceptual problems, such as the infamous measurement problem. The central postulate of the ETH approach is the so-called Principle of Diminishing Potentialities, which enables one to propose a precise definition of isolated open systems, come up with a compelling notion of  events featured by such systems, and to understand the nature of the stochastic time evolution of states in quantum theory. Among central ingredients of the ETH approach are algebras, $\mathcal{E}_{\geq t}$, generated by bounded operators representing potential events that may happen at or after some future time $t$. 

There are some striking similarities between the ETH approach to Quantum Theory and causal fermion systems in their mathematical structure. However, there are also essential differences. For a detailed comparison see [FFOP20]. 

Canonical Quantum Gravity / Loop Quantum Gravity

In these approaches to Quantum Gravity, one takes the Einstein-Hilbert action as the starting point and “quantizes” it, either in the canonical formalism or on a loop space in Ashtekar variables. The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems takes a somewhat complementary path: Instead of “quantizing” a classical action, one starts from a novel framework with a new type of dynamics (causal action principle) and then shows that, in a suitable limiting case, one gets back General Relativity (see the mathematics section → Connection to General Relativity). It is an idea behind the approach that the dynamics as described by the causal action principle includes all the effects of field quantization, making it unnecessary to “quantize” classical fields. At present, however, the connection to quantization effects of gravity has not yet been worked out.
 

String Theory

It is unclear whether the framework of causal fermion systems relates in any way to String Theory. The Theory of Causal Fermion Systems can reproduce the Standard Model without postulating additional particles. It is an interesting open question (link) whether extensions to the Standard Model (including Super Symmetry) can be incorporated in the framework of causal fermion systems.

Further Approaches

Besides the here-mentioned approaches there is number of further approaches that we are not familiar enough to comment on. This includes, but is not limited to: Asymptotic safety, causal dynamical triangulation, group field theory, E8 theory and the approach based on octonions.

Claudio Paganini

Author