Piecewise contractions defined by iterated function systems

Let $\phi_1,\ldots,\phi_n:[0,1]\to (0,1)$ be Lipschitz contractions. Let $I=[0,1)$, $x_0=0$ and $x_n=1$. We prove that for Lebesgue almost every $(x_1,...,x_{n-1})$ satisfying $0<x_1<\cdots <x_{n-1}<1$, the piecewise contraction $f:I\to I$ defined by $x\in [x_{i-1},x_i)\mapsto \phi_i(x)$ is asymptotically periodic. More precisely, $f$ has at least one and at most $n$ periodic orbits and the $\omega$-limit set $\omega_f(x)$ is a periodic orbit of $f$ for every $x\in I$.Comment: 16 pages, two figure

Asymptotically periodic piecewise contractions of the interval

We consider the iterates of a generic injective piecewise contraction of the interval defined by a finite family of contractions. Let $\phi_i:[0,1]\to (0,1)$, $1\le i\le n$, be $C^2$-diffeomorphisms with $\sup_{x\in (0,1)} \vert D\phi_i(x)\vert<1$ whose images $\phi_1([0,1]), \ldots, \phi_n([0,1])$ are pairwise disjoint. Let $0<x_1<\cdots<x_{n-1}<1$ and let $I_1,\ldots, I_n$ be a partition of the interval $[0,1)$ into subintervals $I_i$ having interior $(x_{i-1},x_i)$, where $x_0=0$ and $x_n=1$. Let $f_{x_1,\ldots,x_{n-1}}$ be the map given by $x\mapsto \phi_i(x)$ if $x\in I_i$, for $1\le i\le n$. Among other results we prove that for Lebesgue almost every $(x_1,\ldots,x_{n-1})$, the piecewise contraction $f_{x_1,\ldots,x_{n-1}}$ is asymptotically periodic.Comment: 8 page

Physical evolution in Loop Quantum Cosmology: The example of vacuum Bianchi I

We use the vacuum Bianchi I model as an example to investigate the concept of physical evolution in Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC) in the absence of the massless scalar field which has been used so far in the literature as an internal time. In order to retrieve the system dynamics when no such a suitable clock field is present, we explore different constructions of families of unitarily related partial observables. These observables are parameterized, respectively, by: (i) one of the components of the densitized triad, and (ii) its conjugate momentum; each of them playing the role of an evolution parameter. Exploiting the properties of the considered example, we investigate in detail the domains of applicability of each construction. In both cases the observables possess a neat physical interpretation only in an approximate sense. However, whereas in case (i) such interpretation is reasonably accurate only for a portion of the evolution of the universe, in case (ii) it remains so during all the evolution (at least in the physically interesting cases). The constructed families of observables are next used to describe the evolution of the Bianchi I universe. The performed analysis confirms the robustness of the bounces, also in absence of matter fields, as well as the preservation of the semiclassicality through them. The concept of evolution studied here and the presented construction of observables are applicable to a wide class of models in LQC, including quantizations of the Bianchi I model obtained with other prescriptions for the improved dynamics.Comment: RevTex4, 22 pages, 4 figure

Hybrid Quantum Cosmology: Combining Loop and Fock Quantizations

As a necessary step towards the extraction of realistic results from Loop Quantum Cosmology, we analyze the physical consequences of including inhomogeneities. We consider in detail the quantization of a gravitational model in vacuo which possesses local degrees of freedom, namely, the linearly polarized Gowdy cosmologies with the spatial topology of a three-torus. We carry out a hybrid quantization which combines loop and Fock techniques. We discuss the main aspects and results of this hybrid quantization, which include the resolution of the cosmological singularity, the polymeric quantization of the internal time, a rigorous definition of the quantum constraints and the construction of their solutions, the Hilbert structure of the physical states, and the recovery of a conventional Fock quantization for the inhomogeneities.Comment: 24 pages, published in International Journal of Modern Physics A, Special Issue: Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Quantum Gravity and Noncommutative Geometry (Lisbon, Portugal

Modeling effective FRW cosmologies with perfect fluids from states of the hybrid quantum Gowdy model

We employ recently developed approximation methods in the hybrid quantization of the Gowdy $T^3$ model with linear polarization and a massless scalar field to obtain physically interesting solutions of this inhomogeneous cosmology. More specifically, we propose approximate solutions of the quantum Gowdy model constructed in such a way that, for the Hamiltonian constraint, they effectively behave as those corresponding to a flat homogeneous and isotropic universe filled with a perfect fluid, even though these quantum states are far from being homogeneous and isotropic. We analyze how one can get different perfect fluid effective behaviors, including the cases of dust, radiation, and cosmological constant.Comment: Version accepted for publication in PR

Mode solutions for a Klein-Gordon field in anti-de Sitter spacetime with dynamical boundary conditions of Wentzell type

We study a real, massive Klein-Gordon field in the Poincar\'e fundamental domain of the $(d+1)$-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetime, subject to a particular choice of dynamical boundary conditions of generalized Wentzell type, whereby the boundary data solves a non-homogeneous, boundary Klein-Gordon equation, with the source term fixed by the normal derivative of the scalar field at the boundary. This naturally defines a field in the conformal boundary of the Poincar\'e fundamental domain of AdS. We completely solve the equations for the bulk and boundary fields and investigate the existence of bound state solutions, motivated by the analogous problem with Robin boundary conditions, which are recovered as a limiting case. Finally, we argue that both Robin and generalized Wentzell boundary conditions are distinguished in the sense that they are invariant under the action of the isometry group of the AdS conformal boundary, a condition which ensures in addition that the total flux of energy across the boundary vanishes.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. In V3: refs. added, introduction and conclusions expande