Loop Quantum Gravity
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Kaluza-Klein Gravity, Concentrating on the General Rel- Ativity, Rather Than Particle Physics Side of the Subject
Kaluza-Klein Gravity J. M. Overduin Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W 3P6 and P. S. Wesson Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 and Gravity Probe-B, Hansen Physics Laboratories, Stanford University, Stanford, California, U.S.A. 94305 Abstract We review higher-dimensional unified theories from the general relativity, rather than the particle physics side. Three distinct approaches to the subject are identi- fied and contrasted: compactified, projective and noncompactified. We discuss the cosmological and astrophysical implications of extra dimensions, and conclude that none of the three approaches can be ruled out on observational grounds at the present time. arXiv:gr-qc/9805018v1 7 May 1998 Preprint submitted to Elsevier Preprint 3 February 2008 1 Introduction Kaluza’s [1] achievement was to show that five-dimensional general relativity contains both Einstein’s four-dimensional theory of gravity and Maxwell’s the- ory of electromagnetism. He however imposed a somewhat artificial restriction (the cylinder condition) on the coordinates, essentially barring the fifth one a priori from making a direct appearance in the laws of physics. Klein’s [2] con- tribution was to make this restriction less artificial by suggesting a plausible physical basis for it in compactification of the fifth dimension. This idea was enthusiastically received by unified-field theorists, and when the time came to include the strong and weak forces by extending Kaluza’s mechanism to higher dimensions, it was assumed that these too would be compact. This line of thinking has led through eleven-dimensional supergravity theories in the 1980s to the current favorite contenders for a possible “theory of everything,” ten-dimensional superstrings. -
Conformal Symmetry in Field Theory and in Quantum Gravity
universe Review Conformal Symmetry in Field Theory and in Quantum Gravity Lesław Rachwał Instituto de Física, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília DF 70910-900, Brazil; [email protected] Received: 29 August 2018; Accepted: 9 November 2018; Published: 15 November 2018 Abstract: Conformal symmetry always played an important role in field theory (both quantum and classical) and in gravity. We present construction of quantum conformal gravity and discuss its features regarding scattering amplitudes and quantum effective action. First, the long and complicated story of UV-divergences is recalled. With the development of UV-finite higher derivative (or non-local) gravitational theory, all problems with infinities and spacetime singularities might be completely solved. Moreover, the non-local quantum conformal theory reveals itself to be ghost-free, so the unitarity of the theory should be safe. After the construction of UV-finite theory, we focused on making it manifestly conformally invariant using the dilaton trick. We also argue that in this class of theories conformal anomaly can be taken to vanish by fine-tuning the couplings. As applications of this theory, the constraints of the conformal symmetry on the form of the effective action and on the scattering amplitudes are shown. We also remark about the preservation of the unitarity bound for scattering. Finally, the old model of conformal supergravity by Fradkin and Tseytlin is briefly presented. Keywords: quantum gravity; conformal gravity; quantum field theory; non-local gravity; super- renormalizable gravity; UV-finite gravity; conformal anomaly; scattering amplitudes; conformal symmetry; conformal supergravity 1. Introduction From the beginning of research on theories enjoying invariance under local spacetime-dependent transformations, conformal symmetry played a pivotal role—first introduced by Weyl related changes of meters to measure distances (and also due to relativity changes of periods of clocks to measure time intervals). -
Gravity, Inertia, and Quantum Vacuum Zero Point Fields
Foundations of Physics, Vol.31,No. 5, 2001 Gravity, Inertia, and Quantum Vacuum Zero Point Fields James F. Woodward1 Received July 27, 2000 Over the past several years Haisch, Rueda, and others have made the claim that the origin of inertial reaction forces can be explained as the interaction of electri- cally charged elementary particles with the vacuum electromagnetic zero-point field expected on the basis of quantum field theory. After pointing out that this claim, in light of the fact that the inertial masses of the hadrons reside in the electrically chargeless, photon-like gluons that bind their constituent quarks, is untenable, the question of the role of quantum zero-point fields generally in the origin of inertia is explored. It is shown that, although non-gravitational zero-point fields might be the cause of the gravitational properties of normal matter, the action of non-gravitational zero-point fields cannot be the cause of inertial reac- tion forces. The gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces is then briefly revisited. Recent claims critical of the gravitational origin of inertial reaction forces by Haisch and his collaborators are then shown to be without merit. 1. INTRODUCTION Several years ago Haisch, Rueda, and Puthoff (1) (hereafter, HRP) pub- lished a lengthy paper in which they claimed that a substantial part, indeed perhaps all of normal inertial reaction forces could be understood as the action of the electromagnetic zero-point field (EZPF), expected on the basis of quantum field theory, on electric charges of normal matter. In several subsequent papers Haisch and Rueda particularly have pressed this claim, making various modifications to the fundamental argument to try to deflect several criticisms. -
Loop Quantum Cosmology, Modified Gravity and Extra Dimensions
universe Review Loop Quantum Cosmology, Modified Gravity and Extra Dimensions Xiangdong Zhang Department of Physics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; [email protected] Academic Editor: Jaume Haro Received: 24 May 2016; Accepted: 2 August 2016; Published: 10 August 2016 Abstract: Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is a framework of quantum cosmology based on the quantization of symmetry reduced models following the quantization techniques of loop quantum gravity (LQG). This paper is devoted to reviewing LQC as well as its various extensions including modified gravity and higher dimensions. For simplicity considerations, we mainly focus on the effective theory, which captures main quantum corrections at the cosmological level. We set up the basic structure of Brans–Dicke (BD) and higher dimensional LQC. The effective dynamical equations of these theories are also obtained, which lay a foundation for the future phenomenological investigations to probe possible quantum gravity effects in cosmology. Some outlooks and future extensions are also discussed. Keywords: loop quantum cosmology; singularity resolution; effective equation 1. Introduction Loop quantum gravity (LQG) is a quantum gravity scheme that tries to quantize general relativity (GR) with the nonperturbative techniques consistently [1–4]. Many issues of LQG have been carried out in the past thirty years. In particular, among these issues, loop quantum cosmology (LQC), which is the cosmological sector of LQG has received increasing interest and has become one of the most thriving and fruitful directions of LQG [5–9]. It is well known that GR suffers singularity problems and this, in turn, implies that our universe also has an infinitely dense singularity point that is highly unphysical. -
Quantum Vacuum Energy Density and Unifying Perspectives Between Gravity and Quantum Behaviour of Matter
Annales de la Fondation Louis de Broglie, Volume 42, numéro 2, 2017 251 Quantum vacuum energy density and unifying perspectives between gravity and quantum behaviour of matter Davide Fiscalettia, Amrit Sorlib aSpaceLife Institute, S. Lorenzo in Campo (PU), Italy corresponding author, email: [email protected] bSpaceLife Institute, S. Lorenzo in Campo (PU), Italy Foundations of Physics Institute, Idrija, Slovenia email: [email protected] ABSTRACT. A model of a three-dimensional quantum vacuum based on Planck energy density as a universal property of a granular space is suggested. This model introduces the possibility to interpret gravity and the quantum behaviour of matter as two different aspects of the same origin. The change of the quantum vacuum energy density can be considered as the fundamental medium which determines a bridge between gravity and the quantum behaviour, leading to new interest- ing perspectives about the problem of unifying gravity with quantum theory. PACS numbers: 04. ; 04.20-q ; 04.50.Kd ; 04.60.-m. Key words: general relativity, three-dimensional space, quantum vac- uum energy density, quantum mechanics, generalized Klein-Gordon equation for the quantum vacuum energy density, generalized Dirac equation for the quantum vacuum energy density. 1 Introduction The standard interpretation of phenomena in gravitational fields is in terms of a fundamentally curved space-time. However, this approach leads to well known problems if one aims to find a unifying picture which takes into account some basic aspects of the quantum theory. For this reason, several authors advocated different ways in order to treat gravitational interaction, in which the space-time manifold can be considered as an emergence of the deepest processes situated at the fundamental level of quantum gravity. -
Aspects of Loop Quantum Gravity
Aspects of loop quantum gravity Alexander Nagen 23 September 2020 Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science of Imperial College London 1 Contents 1 Introduction 4 2 Classical theory 12 2.1 The ADM / initial-value formulation of GR . 12 2.2 Hamiltonian GR . 14 2.3 Ashtekar variables . 18 2.4 Reality conditions . 22 3 Quantisation 23 3.1 Holonomies . 23 3.2 The connection representation . 25 3.3 The loop representation . 25 3.4 Constraints and Hilbert spaces in canonical quantisation . 27 3.4.1 The kinematical Hilbert space . 27 3.4.2 Imposing the Gauss constraint . 29 3.4.3 Imposing the diffeomorphism constraint . 29 3.4.4 Imposing the Hamiltonian constraint . 31 3.4.5 The master constraint . 32 4 Aspects of canonical loop quantum gravity 35 4.1 Properties of spin networks . 35 4.2 The area operator . 36 4.3 The volume operator . 43 2 4.4 Geometry in loop quantum gravity . 46 5 Spin foams 48 5.1 The nature and origin of spin foams . 48 5.2 Spin foam models . 49 5.3 The BF model . 50 5.4 The Barrett-Crane model . 53 5.5 The EPRL model . 57 5.6 The spin foam - GFT correspondence . 59 6 Applications to black holes 61 6.1 Black hole entropy . 61 6.2 Hawking radiation . 65 7 Current topics 69 7.1 Fractal horizons . 69 7.2 Quantum-corrected black hole . 70 7.3 A model for Hawking radiation . 73 7.4 Effective spin-foam models . -
Introduction to Loop Quantum Gravity
Introduction to Loop Quantum Gravity Abhay Ashtekar Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, Penn State A broad perspective on the challenges, structure and successes of loop quantum gravity. Addressed to Young Researchers: From Beginning Students to Senior Post-docs. Organization: 1. Historical & Conceptual Setting 2. Structure of Loop Quantum Gravity 3. Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities – p. 1. Historical and Conceptual Setting Einstein’s resistance to accept quantum mechanics as a fundamental theory is well known. However, he had a deep respect for quantum mechanics and was the first to raise the problem of unifying general relativity with quantum theory. “Nevertheless, due to the inner-atomic movement of electrons, atoms would have to radiate not only electro-magnetic but also gravitational energy, if only in tiny amounts. As this is hardly true in Nature, it appears that quantum theory would have to modify not only Maxwellian electrodynamics, but also the new theory of gravitation.” (Albert Einstein, Preussische Akademie Sitzungsberichte, 1916) – p. • Physics has advanced tremendously in the last 90 years but the the problem of unification of general relativity and quantum physics still open. Why? ⋆ No experimental data with direct ramifications on the quantum nature of Gravity. – p. • Physics has advanced tremendously in the last nine decades but the the problem of unification of general relativity and quantum physics is still open. Why? ⋆ No experimental data with direct ramifications on the quantum nature of Gravity. ⋆ But then this should be a theorist’s haven! Why isn’t there a plethora of theories? – p. ⋆ No experimental data with direct ramifications on quantum Gravity. -
Open Dissertation-Final.Pdf
The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School The Eberly College of Science CORRELATIONS IN QUANTUM GRAVITY AND COSMOLOGY A Dissertation in Physics by Bekir Baytas © 2018 Bekir Baytas Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2018 The dissertation of Bekir Baytas was reviewed and approved∗ by the following: Sarah Shandera Assistant Professor of Physics Dissertation Advisor, Chair of Committee Eugenio Bianchi Assistant Professor of Physics Martin Bojowald Professor of Physics Donghui Jeong Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Nitin Samarth Professor of Physics Head of the Department of Physics ∗Signatures are on file in the Graduate School. ii Abstract We study what kind of implications and inferences one can deduce by studying correlations which are realized in various physical systems. In particular, this thesis focuses on specific correlations in systems that are considered in quantum gravity (loop quantum gravity) and cosmology. In loop quantum gravity, a spin-network basis state, nodes of the graph describe un-entangled quantum regions of space, quantum polyhedra. We introduce Bell- network states and study correlations of quantum polyhedra in a dipole, a pentagram and a generic graph. We find that vector geometries, structures with neighboring polyhedra having adjacent faces glued back-to-back, arise from Bell-network states. The results present show clearly the role that entanglement plays in the gluing of neighboring quantum regions of space. We introduce a discrete quantum spin system in which canonical effective methods for background independent theories of quantum gravity can be tested with promising results. In particular, features of interacting dynamics are analyzed with an emphasis on homogeneous configurations and the dynamical building- up and stability of long-range correlations. -
BEYOND SPACE and TIME the Secret Network of the Universe: How Quantum Geometry Might Complete Einstein’S Dream
BEYOND SPACE AND TIME The secret network of the universe: How quantum geometry might complete Einstein’s dream By Rüdiger Vaas With the help of a few innocuous - albeit subtle and potent - equations, Abhay Ashtekar can escape the realm of ordinary space and time. The mathematics developed specifically for this purpose makes it possible to look behind the scenes of the apparent stage of all events - or better yet: to shed light on the very foundation of reality. What sounds like black magic, is actually incredibly hard physics. Were Albert Einstein alive today, it would have given him great pleasure. For the goal is to fulfil the big dream of a unified theory of gravity and the quantum world. With the new branch of science of quantum geometry, also called loop quantum gravity, Ashtekar has come close to fulfilling this dream - and tries thereby, in addition, to answer the ultimate questions of physics: the mysteries of the big bang and black holes. "On the Planck scale there is a precise, rich, and discrete structure,” says Ashtekar, professor of physics and Director of the Center for Gravitational Physics and Geometry at Pennsylvania State University. The Planck scale is the smallest possible length scale with units of the order of 10-33 centimeters. That is 20 orders of magnitude smaller than what the world’s best particle accelerators can detect. At this scale, Einstein’s theory of general relativity fails. Its subject is the connection between space, time, matter and energy. But on the Planck scale it gives unreasonable values - absurd infinities and singularities. -
Gravitational Interaction to One Loop in Effective Quantum Gravity A
IT9700281 LABORATORI NAZIONALI Dl FRASCATI SIS - Pubblicazioni LNF-96/0S8 (P) ITHf 00 Z%i 31 ottobre 1996 gr-qc/9611018 Gravitational Interaction to one Loop in Effective Quantum Gravity A. Akhundov" S. Bellucci6 A. Shiekhcl "Universitat-Gesamthochschule Siegen, D-57076 Siegen, Germany, and Institute of Physics, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, pr. Azizbekova 33, AZ-370143 Baku, Azerbaijan 6INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, P.O. Box 13, 00044 Frascati, Italy ^International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, P.O. Box 586, 34014 Trieste, Italy Abstract We carry out the first step of a program conceived, in order to build a realistic model, having the particle spectrum of the standard model and renormalized masses, interaction terms and couplings, etc. which include the class of quantum gravity corrections, obtained by handling gravity as an effective theory. This provides an adequate picture at low energies, i.e. much less than the scale of strong gravity (the Planck mass). Hence our results are valid, irrespectively of any proposal for the full quantum gravity as a fundamental theory. We consider only non-analytic contributions to the one-loop scattering matrix elements, which provide the dominant quantum effect at long distance. These contributions are finite and independent from the finite value of the renormalization counter terms of the effective lagrangian. We calculate the interaction of two heavy scalar particles, i.e. close to rest, due to the effective quantum gravity to the one loop order and compare with similar results in the literature. PACS.: 04.60.+n Submitted to Physics Letters B 1 E-mail addresses: [email protected], bellucciQlnf.infn.it, [email protected] — 2 1 Introduction A longstanding puzzle in quantum physics is how to marry the description of gravity with the field theory of elementary particles. -
Twistor Theory at Fifty: from Rspa.Royalsocietypublishing.Org Contour Integrals to Twistor Strings Michael Atiyah1,2, Maciej Dunajski3 and Lionel Review J
Downloaded from http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/ on November 10, 2017 Twistor theory at fifty: from rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org contour integrals to twistor strings Michael Atiyah1,2, Maciej Dunajski3 and Lionel Review J. Mason4 Cite this article: Atiyah M, Dunajski M, Mason LJ. 2017 Twistor theory at fifty: from 1School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, contour integrals to twistor strings. Proc. R. Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, UK Soc. A 473: 20170530. 2Trinity College Cambridge, University of Cambridge, Cambridge http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2017.0530 CB21TQ,UK 3Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Received: 1 August 2017 University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK Accepted: 8 September 2017 4The Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK Subject Areas: MD, 0000-0002-6477-8319 mathematical physics, high-energy physics, geometry We review aspects of twistor theory, its aims and achievements spanning the last five decades. In Keywords: the twistor approach, space–time is secondary twistor theory, instantons, self-duality, with events being derived objects that correspond to integrable systems, twistor strings compact holomorphic curves in a complex threefold— the twistor space. After giving an elementary construction of this space, we demonstrate how Author for correspondence: solutions to linear and nonlinear equations of Maciej Dunajski mathematical physics—anti-self-duality equations e-mail: [email protected] on Yang–Mills or conformal curvature—can be encoded into twistor cohomology. These twistor correspondences yield explicit examples of Yang– Mills and gravitational instantons, which we review. They also underlie the twistor approach to integrability: the solitonic systems arise as symmetry reductions of anti-self-dual (ASD) Yang–Mills equations, and Einstein–Weyl dispersionless systems are reductions of ASD conformal equations. -
The Pauli Exclusion Principle and SU(2) Vs. SO(3) in Loop Quantum Gravity
The Pauli Exclusion Principle and SU(2) vs. SO(3) in Loop Quantum Gravity John Swain Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA email: [email protected] (Submitted for the Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition, March 27, 2003) ABSTRACT Recent attempts to resolve the ambiguity in the loop quantum gravity description of the quantization of area has led to the idea that j =1edgesof spin-networks dominate in their contribution to black hole areas as opposed to j =1=2 which would naively be expected. This suggests that the true gauge group involved might be SO(3) rather than SU(2) with attendant difficulties. We argue that the assumption that a version of the Pauli principle is present in loop quantum gravity allows one to maintain SU(2) as the gauge group while still naturally achieving the desired suppression of spin-1/2 punctures. Areas come from j = 1 punctures rather than j =1=2 punctures for much the same reason that photons lead to macroscopic classically observable fields while electrons do not. 1 I. INTRODUCTION The recent successes of the approach to canonical quantum gravity using the Ashtekar variables have been numerous and significant. Among them are the proofs that area and volume operators have discrete spectra, and a derivation of black hole entropy up to an overall undetermined constant [1]. An excellent recent review leading directly to this paper is by Baez [2], and its influence on this introduction will be clear. The basic idea is that a basis for the solution of the quantum constraint equations is given by spin-network states, which are graphs whose edges carry representations j of SU(2).