Casimir effect in a quantum space-time

We apply quantum field theory in quantum space-time techniques to study the Casimir effect for large spherical shells. As background we use the recently constructed exact quantum solution for spherically symmetric vacuum space-time in loop quantum gravity. All calculations are finite and one recovers the usual results without the need of regularization or renormalization. This is an example of how loop quantum gravity provides a natural resolution to the infinities of quantum field theories.Comment: 4 page

Quantum Transfiguration of Kruskal Black Holes

We present a new effective description of macroscopic Kruskal black holes that incorporates corrections due to quantum geometry effects of loop quantum gravity. It encompasses both the `interior' region that contains classical singularities and the `exterior' asymptotic region. Singularities are naturally resolved by the quantum geometry effects of loop quantum gravity, and the resulting quantum extension of the full Kruskal space-time is free of all the known limitations of previous investigations [1-11] of the Schwarzschild interior. We compare and contrast our results with these investigations and also with the expectations based on the AdS/CFT duality [12].Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, minor changes, version to appear in PR

Quantum Extension of the Kruskal Space-time

A new description of macroscopic Kruskal black holes that incorporates the quantum geometry corrections of loop quantum gravity is presented. It encompasses both the `interior' region that contains classical singularities and the `exterior' asymptotic region. Singularities are naturally resolved by the quantum geometry effects of loop quantum gravity. The resulting quantum extension of space-time has the following features: (i) It admits an infinite number of trapped, anti-trapped and asymptotic regions; (ii) All curvature scalars have uniform (i.e., mass independent) upper bounds; (iii) In the large mass limit, all asymptotic regions of the extension have the same ADM mass; (iv) In the low curvature region (e.g., near horizons) quantum effects are negligible, as one would physically expect; and (v) Final results are insensitive to the fiducial structures that have to be introduced to construct the classical phase space description (as they must be). Previous effective theories [1-10] shared some but not all of these features. We compare and contrast our results with those of these effective theories and also with expectations based on the AdS/CFT conjecture [11]. We conclude with a discussion of limitations of our framework, especially for the analysis of evaporating black holes.Comment: 47 pages, 5 figures, A short addendum is added after the last section to address misleading remarks in a recent pre-print [50] that may confuse the reade

Schr\"odinger-like quantum dynamics in loop quantized black holes

We show, following a previous quantization of a vacuum spherically symmetric spacetime carried out in Ref. \cite{gop}, that this setting admits a Schr\"odinger-like picture. More precisely, the technique adopted there for the definition of parametrized Dirac observables (that codify local information of the quantum theory) can be extended in order to accommodate different pictures. In this new picture, the quantum states are parametrized in terms of suitable gauge parameters and the observables constructed out of the kinematical ones on this space of parametrized states.Comment: 19 pages, minor corrections have been incorporated in order to match the published versio

Quantum black holes in Loop Quantum Gravity

We study the quantization of spherically symmetric vacuum spacetimes within loop quantum gravity. In particular, we give additional details about our previous work in which we showed that one could complete the quantization the model and that the singularity inside black holes is resolved. Moreover, we consider an alternative quantization based on a slightly different kinematical Hilbert space. The ambiguity in kinematical spaces stems from how one treats the periodicity of one of the classical variables in these models. The corresponding physical Hilbert spaces solve the diffeomorphism and Hamiltonian constraint but their intrinsic structure is radically different depending on the kinematical Hilbert space one started from. In both cases there are quantum observables that do not have a classical counterpart. However, one can show that at the end of the day, by examining Dirac observables, both quantizations lead to the same physical predictions.Comment: 20 pages. Some further change

Brief review on black hole loop quantization

Here, we present a review about the quantization of spherically-symmetric spacetimes adopting loop quantum gravity techniques. Several models that have been studied so far share similar properties: the resolution of the classical singularity and some of them an intrinsic discretization of the geometry. We also explain the extension to Reissner---Nordstr\"om black holes. Besides, we review how quantum test fields on these quantum geometries allow us to study phenomena, like the Casimir effect or Hawking radiation. Finally, we briefly describe a recent proposal that incorporates spherically-symmetric matter, discussing its relevance for the understanding of black hole evolution.Comment: 49 pages, several typos have been corrected, corrections included in order to match the published versio

Classical axisymmetric gravity in real Ashtekar variables

We formulate axisymmetric general relativity in terms of real Ashtekar--Barbero variables. We study the constraints and equations of motion and show how the Kerr, Schwarzschild and Minkowski solutions arise. We also discuss boundary conditions. This opens the possibility of a midisuperspace quantization using loop quantum gravity techniques for spacetimes with axial symmetry and time dependence.Comment: 14 pages, no figures, RevTex. Published versio