Gravitational null rays are quantized in a diffeomorphism-covariant way using the gravitational dressing time as quantum reference frame, producing a Virasoro crossed-product algebra of gauge-invariant observables.
Localization and anomalous reference frames in gravity
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abstract
In this work, we study the classical phase space for the gravitational degrees of freedom along a null ray. We construct gauge-invariant observables localized on a null ray segment that commute with those localized on the complement; thus, the phase space describes a genuine gravitational subsystem compatible with both locality and diffeomorphism invariance. Our construction employs 'dressing time' (a null time coordinate built from spin 0 gravitational degrees of freedom) as a dynamical reference frame. The existence of such a frame depends on the use of edge mode variables, which we argue are generally required to upgrade a local gauge-fixing condition to a global 'frame-fixing'. To analyze the effects of quantum diffeomorphism anomalies on these structures, we then establish an 'effective' classical description in which the Raychaudhuri equation, symplectic form, and edge mode variables all acquire Virasoro-type deformations. Within this framework, we identify three distinct diffeomorphism actions: reparametrizations (gauge transformations), reorientations (physical symmetries of the reference frame), and dressed reparametrizations. Each acquires its own central extension and plays a different crucial role in the effective theory. The resulting structures provide a foundation for quantizing gravitational null ray segments, including promoting dressing time to a genuine quantum reference frame.
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2026 4representative citing papers
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The noise spectrum an interferometer would see from quantum spacetime jitter is computed for vacuum, thermal, squeezed, and scalar-backreaction states; all are Planck-suppressed.
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Gravitational null rays: Covariant Quantization and the Dressing Time
Gravitational null rays are quantized in a diffeomorphism-covariant way using the gravitational dressing time as quantum reference frame, producing a Virasoro crossed-product algebra of gauge-invariant observables.
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Quantum Reference Fields Transformations in Linearized Quantum Gravity
Extends quantum reference frames to quantum reference fields in linearized quantum gravity and derives unitary maps implementing relational gauge-invariant observables between quantum perspectives.
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Error Correction in Lattice Quantum Electrodynamics with Quantum Reference Frames
Lattice QED is established as a quantum error-correcting code beyond stabilizers, with explicit recovery operations constructed via quantum reference frames for gauge and fermionic sectors.
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Geometric noise spectrum in interferometers
The noise spectrum an interferometer would see from quantum spacetime jitter is computed for vacuum, thermal, squeezed, and scalar-backreaction states; all are Planck-suppressed.