{
  "abstract": "We propose a scenario according to which the ultraviolet completion of General Relativity is realized through a stochastic gradient flow towards a topological BF theory. Specifically, we consider the stochastic gradient flow of a pre-geometric theory proposed by Wilczek. Its infrared limit exists, and corresponds to a fixed point where stochastic fluctuations vanish. Diffeomorphism symmetries are restored in this limit, where the theory is classical and expressed by the Einstein-Hilbert action. The infrared phase then corresponds to the classical theory of General Relativity, the quantization of which becomes meaningless. Away from the infrared limit, in the pre-geometric phase of the stochastic gradient flow, the relevant fields of the Wilczek theory undergo stochastic fluctuations. The theory can be quantized perturbatively, generating corrections to the classical Einstein-Hilbert action. The stochastic gradient flow also possesses an ultraviolet fixed point. The theory flows to a topological BF action, to which non-perturbative quantization methods can be applied. Two phase transitions occur along the thermal time dynamics, being marked by: i) the breakdown of the topological BF symmetries in the ultraviolet regime, which originates the pre-geometric phase described by the Wilczek theory; ii) the breakdown of the parental symmetries characterizing the Wilczek theory, from which General Relativity emerges. The problem of quantizing the Einstein-Hilbert action of gravity finally becomes redundant.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, 246133, China",
    "Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati INFN, Frascati, Rome, Italy",
    "Dipartimento di Fisica “E. Pancini”, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cinthia 9, Napoli, 80126, Italy",
    "INFN Sezione di Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Edificio 6, Via Cintia, Napoli, 80126, Italy",
    "Research Center of Astrophysics and Cosmology, Khazar University, 41 Mehseti Street, Baku, AZ1096, Azerbaijan",
    "Scuola Superiore Meridionale, Largo San Marcellino, 10, Napoli, 80138, Italy",
    "Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China",
    "Center for Field Theory and Particle Physics & Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China",
    "School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China",
    "Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, 1 Lisuo Road, Shanghai, 201210, China",
    "INFN sezione di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Rome, 00133, Italy"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Addazi",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9258-6229"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3,
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Salvatore Capozzıello",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4886-2024"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Jinglong Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3308-2466"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7,
        10,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Antonino Marcianò",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4719-110X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Giuseppe Meluccio",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9030-1549"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Xuanlin Su",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6718-9851"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7525k5qeh3k6.bib",
  "cited_by": 19,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140576",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "a7525k5qeh3k6",
  "issns": [
    "0370-2693",
    "1873-2445"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140576",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "3109|Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories"
    ]
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  "openalex": "W4415329722",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-06-01",
  "publisher": "Elsevier BV",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7525k5qeh3k6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:18Z",
      "native_id": "W4415329722",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140576"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "openalex:3106|Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "openalex:3109|Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories",
      "subfield": "statistical-nonlinear"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Emergent gravity from topological quantum field theory: Stochastic gradient flow perspective away from the quantum gravity problem",
  "title_text": "Emergent gravity from topological quantum field theory: Stochastic gradient flow perspective away from the quantum gravity problem",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T13:20:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a7525k5qeh3k6",
  "venue": "Physics Letters B",
  "versions": []
}