2,019 research outputs found
Loop Quantum Gravity and the The Planck Regime of Cosmology
The very early universe provides the best arena we currently have to test
quantum gravity theories. The success of the inflationary paradigm in
accounting for the observed inhomogeneities in the cosmic microwave background
already illustrates this point to a certain extent because the paradigm is
based on quantum field theory on the curved cosmological space-times. However,
this analysis excludes the Planck era because the background space-time
satisfies Einstein's equations all the way back to the big bang singularity.
Using techniques from loop quantum gravity, the paradigm has now been extended
to a self-consistent theory from the Planck regime to the onset of inflation,
covering some 11 orders of magnitude in curvature. In addition, for a narrow
window of initial conditions, there are departures from the standard paradigm,
with novel effects, such as a modification of the consistency relation
involving the scalar and tensor power spectra and a new source for
non-Gaussianities. Thus, the genesis of the large scale structure of the
universe can be traced back to quantum gravity fluctuations \emph{in the Planck
regime}. This report provides a bird's eye view of these developments for the
general relativity community.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures. Plenary talk at the Conference: Relativity and
Gravitation: 100 Years after Einstein in Prague. To appear in the Proceedings
to be published by Edition Open Access. Summarizes results that appeared in
journal articles [2-13
The Holst Spin Foam Model via Cubulations
Spin foam models are an attempt for a covariant, or path integral formulation
of canonical loop quantum gravity. The construction of such models usually rely
on the Plebanski formulation of general relativity as a constrained BF theory
and is based on the discretization of the action on a simplicial triangulation,
which may be viewed as an ultraviolet regulator. The triangulation dependence
can be removed by means of group field theory techniques, which allows one to
sum over all triangulations. The main tasks for these models are the correct
quantum implementation of the Plebanski constraints, the existence of a
semiclassical sector implementing additional "Regge-like" constraints arising
from simplicial triangulations, and the definition of the physical inner
product of loop quantum gravity via group field theory. Here we propose a new
approach to tackle these issues stemming directly from the Holst action for
general relativity, which is also a proper starting point for canonical loop
quantum gravity. The discretization is performed by means of a "cubulation" of
the manifold rather than a triangulation. We give a direct interpretation of
the resulting spin foam model as a generating functional for the n-point
functions on the physical Hilbert space at finite regulator. This paper focuses
on ideas and tasks to be performed before the model can be taken seriously.
However, our analysis reveals some interesting features of this model: first,
the structure of its amplitudes differs from the standard spin foam models.
Second, the tetrad n-point functions admit a "Wick-like" structure. Third, the
restriction to simple representations does not automatically occur -- unless
one makes use of the time gauge, just as in the classical theory.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure; v3: published version. arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:0911.213
From the discrete to the continuous - towards a cylindrically consistent dynamics
Discrete models usually represent approximations to continuum physics.
Cylindrical consistency provides a framework in which discretizations mirror
exactly the continuum limit. Being a standard tool for the kinematics of loop
quantum gravity we propose a coarse graining procedure that aims at
constructing a cylindrically consistent dynamics in the form of transition
amplitudes and Hamilton's principal functions. The coarse graining procedure,
which is motivated by tensor network renormalization methods, provides a
systematic approximation scheme towards this end. A crucial role in this coarse
graining scheme is played by embedding maps that allow the interpretation of
discrete boundary data as continuum configurations. These embedding maps should
be selected according to the dynamics of the system, as a choice of embedding
maps will determine a truncation of the renormalization flow.Comment: 22 page
Numerical loop quantum cosmology: an overview
A brief review of various numerical techniques used in loop quantum cosmology
and results is presented. These include the way extensive numerical simulations
shed insights on the resolution of classical singularities, resulting in the
key prediction of the bounce at the Planck scale in different models, and the
numerical methods used to analyze the properties of the quantum difference
operator and the von Neumann stability issues. Using the quantization of a
massless scalar field in an isotropic spacetime as a template, an attempt is
made to highlight the complementarity of different methods to gain
understanding of the new physics emerging from the quantum theory. Open
directions which need to be explored with more refined numerical methods are
discussed.Comment: 33 Pages, 4 figures. Invited contribution to appear in Classical and
Quantum Gravity special issue on Non-Astrophysical Numerical Relativit
Loop Quantum Cosmology: A Status Report
The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the current state of
the art in loop quantum cosmology for three sets of audiences: young
researchers interested in entering this area; the quantum gravity community in
general; and, cosmologists who wish to apply loop quantum cosmology to probe
modifications in the standard paradigm of the early universe. An effort has
been made to streamline the material so that, as described at the end of
section I, each of these communities can read only the sections they are most
interested in, without a loss of continuity.Comment: 138 pages, 15 figures. Invited Topical Review, To appear in Classical
and Quantum Gravity. Typos corrected, clarifications and references adde
The role of the RACK1 ortholog Cpc2p in modulating pheromone-induced cell cycle arrest in fission yeast
The detection and amplification of extracellular signals requires the involvement of multiple protein components. In mammalian cells the receptor of activated C kinase (RACK1) is an important scaffolding protein for signal transduction networks. Further, it also performs a critical function in regulating the cell cycle by modulating the G1/S transition. Many eukaryotic cells express RACK1 orthologs, with one example being Cpc2p in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In contrast to RACK1, Cpc2p has been described to positively regulate, at the ribosomal level, cells entry into M phase. In addition, Cpc2p controls the stress response pathways through an interaction with Msa2p, and sexual development by modulating Ran1p/Pat1p. Here we describe investigations into the role, which Cpc2p performs in controlling the G protein-mediated mating response pathway. Despite structural similarity to GÎČ-like subunits, Cpc2p appears not to function at the G protein level. However, upon pheromone stimulation, cells overexpressing Cpc2p display substantial cell morphology defects, disorientation of septum formation and a significantly protracted G1 arrest. Cpc2p has the potential to function at multiple positions within the pheromone response pathway. We provide a mechanistic interpretation of this novel data by linking Cpc2p function, during the mating response, with its previous described interactions with Ran1p/Pat1p. We suggest that overexpressing Cpc2p prolongs the stimulated state of pheromone-induced cells by increasing ste11 gene expression. These data indicate that Cpc2p regulates the pheromone-induced cell cycle arrest in fission yeast by delaying cells entry into S phase
Loop quantum gravity: the first twenty five years
This is a review paper invited by the journal "Classical ad Quantum Gravity"
for a "Cluster Issue" on approaches to quantum gravity. I give a synthetic
presentation of loop gravity. I spell-out the aims of the theory and compare
the results obtained with the initial hopes that motivated the early interest
in this research direction. I give my own perspective on the status of the
program and attempt of a critical evaluation of its successes and limits.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figure
Fermions in Loop Quantum Cosmology and the Role of Parity
Fermions play a special role in homogeneous models of quantum cosmology
because the exclusion principle prevents them from forming sizable matter
contributions. They can thus describe the matter ingredients only truly
microscopically and it is not possible to avoid strong quantum regimes by
positing a large matter content. Moreover, possible parity violating effects
are important especially in loop quantum cosmology whose basic object is a
difference equation for the wave function of the universe defined on a discrete
space of triads. The two orientations of a triad are interchanged by a parity
transformation, which leaves the difference equation invariant for ordinary
matter. Here, we revisit and extend loop quantum cosmology by introducing
fermions and the gravitational torsion they imply, which renders the parity
issue non-trivial. A treatable locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi model is
introduced which clearly shows the role of parity. General wave functions
cannot be parity-even or odd, and parity violating effects in matter influence
the microscopic big bang transition which replaces the classical singularity in
loop quantum cosmology.Comment: 17 page
Characterization of 8p21.3 chromosomal deletions in B-cell lymphoma: TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 as candidate dosage-dependent tumor suppressor genes
Deletions of chromosome 8p are a recurrent event in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. We have characterized these deletions using comparative genomic hybridization to microarrays, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping, DNA sequencing, and functional studies. A minimal deleted region (MDR) of 600 kb was defined in chromosome 8p21.3, with one mantle cell lymphoma cell line (Z138) exhibiting monoallelic deletion of 650 kb. The MDR extended from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones RP11-382J24 and RP11-109B10 and included the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor gene loci. Sequence analysis of the individual expressed genes within the MDR and DNA sequencing of the entire MDR in Z138 did not reveal any mutation. Gene expression analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) showed down-regulation of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 receptor genes as a consistent event in B-NHL with 8p21.3 loss. Epigenetic inactivation was excluded via promoter methylation analysis. In vitro studies showed that TRAIL-induced apoptosis was dependent on TRAIL-R1 and/or -R2 dosage in most tumors. Resistance to apoptosis of cell lines with 8p21.3 deletion was reversed by restoration of TRAIL-R1 or TRAIL-R2 expression by gene transfection. Our data suggest that TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 act as dosage-dependent tumor suppressor genes whose monoallelic deletion can impair TRAIL-induced apoptosis in B-cell lymphoma
Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions in the forward region in pp collisions at âs=7 TeV
Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions, produced in protonproton collisions at a 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy, are studied using a data sample collected
by the LHCb experiment. The signature for Bose-Einstein correlations is observed in the
form of an enhancement of pairs of like-sign charged pions with small four-momentum
difference squared. The charged-particle multiplicity dependence of the Bose-Einstein correlation parameters describing the correlation strength and the size of the emitting source
is investigated, determining both the correlation radius and the chaoticity parameter. The
measured correlation radius is found to increase as a function of increasing charged-particle
multiplicity, while the chaoticity parameter is seen to decreas
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