4 research outputs found
On Energy Conditions and Stability in Effective Loop Quantum Cosmology
In isotropic loop quantum cosmology, non-perturbatively modified dynamics of
a minimally coupled scalar field violates weak, strong and dominant energy
conditions when they are stated in terms of equation of state parameter. The
violation of strong energy condition helps to have non-singular evolution by
evading singularity theorems thus leading to a generic inflationary phase.
However, the violation of weak and dominant energy conditions raises concern,
as in general relativity these conditions ensure causality of the system and
stability of vacuum via Hawking-Ellis conservation theorem. It is shown here
that the non-perturbatively modified kinetic term contributes negative pressure
but positive energy density. This crucial feature leads to violation of energy
conditions but ensures positivity of energy density, as scalar matter
Hamiltonian remains bounded from below. It is also shown that the modified
dynamics restricts group velocity for inhomogeneous modes to remain sub-luminal
thus ensuring causal propagation across spatial distances.Comment: 29 pages, revtex4; few clarifications, references added, to appear in
CQ
Background independence in a nutshell
We study how physical information can be extracted from a background
independent quantum system. We use an extremely simple `minimalist' system that
models a finite region of 3d euclidean quantum spacetime with a single
equilateral tetrahedron. We show that the physical information can be expressed
as a boundary amplitude. We illustrate how the notions of "evolution" in a
boundary proper-time and "vacuum" can be extracted from the background
independent dynamics.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figure
Towards the QFT on Curved Spacetime Limit of QGR. I: A General Scheme
In this article and a companion paper we address the question of how one
might obtain the semiclassical limit of ordinary matter quantum fields (QFT)
propagating on curved spacetimes (CST) from full fledged Quantum General
Relativity (QGR), starting from first principles. We stress that we do not
claim to have a satisfactory answer to this question, rather our intention is
to ignite a discussion by displaying the problems that have to be solved when
carrying out such a program. In the present paper we propose a scheme that one
might follow in order to arrive at such a limit. We discuss the technical and
conceptual problems that arise in doing so and how they can be solved in
principle. As to be expected, completely new issues arise due to the fact that
QGR is a background independent theory. For instance, fundamentally the notion
of a photon involves not only the Maxwell quantum field but also the metric
operator - in a sense, there is no photon vacuum state but a "photon vacuum
operator"! While in this first paper we focus on conceptual and abstract
aspects, for instance the definition of (fundamental) n-particle states (e.g.
photons), in the second paper we perform detailed calculations including, among
other things, coherent state expectation values and propagation on random
lattices. These calculations serve as an illustration of how far one can get
with present mathematical techniques. Although they result in detailed
predictions for the size of first quantum corrections such as the gamma-ray
burst effect, these predictions should not be taken too seriously because a)
the calculations are carried out at the kinematical level only and b) while we
can classify the amount of freedom in our constructions, the analysis of the
physical significance of possible choices has just begun.Comment: LaTeX, 47 p., 3 figure
Spin Foam Models for Quantum Gravity
In this article we review the present status of the spin foam formulation of
non-perturbative (background independent) quantum gravity. The article is
divided in two parts. In the first part we present a general introduction to
the main ideas emphasizing their motivations from various perspectives.
Riemannian 3-dimensional gravity is used as a simple example to illustrate
conceptual issues and the main goals of the approach. The main features of the
various existing models for 4-dimensional gravity are also presented here. We
conclude with a discussion of important questions to be addressed in four
dimensions (gauge invariance, discretization independence, etc.).
In the second part we concentrate on the definition of the Barrett-Crane
model. We present the main results obtained in this framework from a critical
perspective. Finally we review the combinatorial formulation of spin foam
models based on the dual group field theory technology. We present the
Barrett-Crane model in this framework and review the finiteness results
obtained for both its Riemannian as well as its Lorentzian variants.Comment: Topical review, to appear in CQG. Typos corrected and new references
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