Knots and Quantum Gravity

This book is the first title in a new series from Oxford University Press; a series designed to make the most recent applied mathematics research more easily accessible to all professionals, postgraduates, and researchers pursuing a specific line of investigation. Recent work by mathematicians and physicists has uncovered surprising connections between knot theory and the problem of developing a quantum theory of gravity. This volume is the proceedings of a workshop held at the University of California at Riverside attended by many experts in this excitingarea of research. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together researchers in knot theory and quantum gravity and form more bridges between the two subjects. Most of the talks were given by researchers whose work has significance for both subjects. This volume contains expository papers as well as newresults, and should serve as a guide for mathematicians and physicists seeking to understand this rapidly developing area of research.