4,952 research outputs found
Solving the Constraints of General Relativity
I show in this letter that it is possible to solve some of the constraints of
the -ADM formalism for general relativity by using an approach similar
to the one introduced by Capovilla, Dell and Jacobson to solve the vector and
scalar constraints in the Ashtekar variables framework. I discuss the
advantages of using the ADM formalism and compare the result with similar
proposals for different Hamiltonian formulations of general relativity.Comment: 8 pages, LATEX, no figures, Preprint CGPG-94/11-
From Euclidean to Lorentzian General Relativity: The Real Way
We study in this paper a new approach to the problem of relating solutions to
the Einstein field equations with Riemannian and Lorentzian signatures. The
procedure can be thought of as a "real Wick rotation". We give a modified
action for general relativity, depending on two real parameters, that can be
used to control the signature of the solutions to the field equations. We show
how this procedure works for the Schwarzschild metric and discuss some possible
applications of the formalism in the context of signature change, the problem
of time, black hole thermodynamics...Comment: 20 pages uuencoded gzipped tar format. Accepted in Phys. Rev. D. Some
references adde
Statistical description of the black hole degeneracy spectrum
We use mathematical methods based on generating functions to study the
statistical properties of the black hole degeneracy spectrum in loop quantum
gravity. In particular we will study the persistence of the observed effective
quantization of the entropy as a function of the horizon area. We will show
that this quantization disappears as the area increases despite the existence
of black hole configurations with a large degeneracy. The methods that we
describe here can be adapted to the study of the statistical properties of the
black hole degeneracy spectrum for all the existing proposals to define black
hole entropy in loop quantum gravity.Comment: 41 pages, 12 figure
BF Actions for the Husain-Kuchar Model
We show that the Husain-Kuchar model can be described in the framework of BF
theories. This is a first step towards its quantization by standard
perturbative QFT techniques or the spin-foam formalism introduced in the
space-time description of General Relativity and other diff-invariant theories.
The actions that we will consider are similar to the ones describing the
BF-Yang-Mills model and some mass generating mechanisms for gauge fields. We
will also discuss the role of diffeomorphisms in the new formulations that we
propose.Comment: 21 pages (in DIN A4 format), minor typos corrected; to appear in
Phys. Rev.
Real Ashtekar Variables for Lorentzian Signature Space-times
I suggest in this letter a new strategy to attack the problem of the reality
conditions in the Ashtekar approach to classical and quantum general
relativity. By writing a modified Hamiltonian constraint in the usual
Yang-Mills phase space I show that it is possible to describe space-times with
Lorentzian signature without the introduction of complex variables. All the
features of the Ashtekar formalism related to the geometrical nature of the new
variables are retained; in particular, it is still possible, in principle, to
use the loop variables approach in the passage to the quantum theory. The key
issue in the new formulation is how to deal with the more complicated
Hamiltonian constraint that must be used in order to avoid the introduction of
complex fields.Comment: 10 pages, LATEX, Preprint CGPG-94/10-
Quantum isolated horizons and black hole entropy
We give a short introduction to the approaches currently used to describe
black holes in loop quantum gravity. We will concentrate on the classical
issues related to the modeling of black holes as isolated horizons, give a
short discussion of their canonical quantization by using loop quantum gravity
techniques, and a description of the combinatorial methods necessary to solve
the counting problems involved in the computation of the entropy.Comment: 28 pages in A4 format. Contribution to the Proceedings of the 3rd
Quantum Geometry and Quantum Gravity School in Zakopane (2011
The Husain-Kuchar Model: Time Variables and Non-degenerate Metrics
We study the Husain-Kuchar model by introducing a new action principle
similar to the self-dual action used in the Ashtekar variables approach to
Quantum Gravity. This new action has several interesting features; among them,
the presence of a scalar time variable that allows the definition of geometric
observables without adding new degrees of freedom, the appearance of a natural
non-degenerate four-metric and the possibility of coupling ordinary matter.Comment: LaTeX, 22 pages, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Classical and quantum behavior of dynamical systems defined by functions of solvable Hamiltonians
We discuss the classical and quantum mechanical evolution of systems
described by a Hamiltonian that is a function of a solvable one, both
classically and quantum mechanically. The case in which the solvable
Hamiltonian corresponds to the harmonic oscillator is emphasized. We show that,
in spite of the similarities at the classical level, the quantum evolution is
very different. In particular, this difference is important in constructing
coherent states, which is impossible in most cases. The class of Hamiltonians
we consider is interesting due to its pedagogical value and its applicability
to some open research problems in quantum optics and quantum gravity.Comment: Accepted for publication in American Journal of Physic
Quantum Geometry and Quantum Gravity
The purpose of this contribution is to give an introduction to quantum
geometry and loop quantum gravity for a wide audience of both physicists and
mathematicians. From a physical point of view the emphasis will be on
conceptual issues concerning the relationship of the formalism with other more
traditional approaches inspired in the treatment of the fundamental
interactions in the standard model. Mathematically I will pay special attention
to functional analytic issues, the construction of the relevant Hilbert spaces
and the definition and properties of geometric operators: areas and volumes.Comment: To appear in the AIP Conference Proceedings of the XVI International
Fall Workshop on Geometry and Physics, Lisbon - Portugal, 5-8 September 200
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