Some Remarks on the Semi-Classical Limit of Quantum Gravity

One of the most important issues in quantum gravity is to identify its semi-classical regime. First the issue is to define for we mean by a semi-classical theory of quantum gravity, then we would like to use it to extract physical predictions. Writing an effective theory on a flat background is a way to address this problem and I explain how the non-commutative spacetime of deformed special relativity is the natural arena for such considerations. On the other hand, I discuss how the definition of the semi-classical regime can be formulated in a background independent fashion in terms of quantum information and renormalisation of geometry.Comment: 5 pages, Proceedings of the Second International Workshop DICE2004 (Castello di Piombino, Tuscany) "From Decoherence and Emergent Classicality to Emergent Quantum Mechanics

Lifting SU(2) Spin Networks to Projected Spin Networks

Projected spin network states are the canonical basis of quantum states of geometry for the most recent EPR-FK spinfoam models for quantum gravity. They are functionals of both the Lorentz connection and the time normal field. We analyze in details the map from these projected spin networks to the standard SU(2) spin networks of loop quantum gravity. We show that this map is not one-to-one and that the corresponding ambiguity is parameterized by the Immirzi parameter. We conclude with a comparison of the scalar products between projected spin networks and SU(2) spin network states.Comment: 14 page

U(N) Coherent States for Loop Quantum Gravity

We investigate the geometry of the space of N-valent SU(2)-intertwiners. We propose a new set of holomorphic operators acting on this space and a new set of coherent states which are covariant under U(N) transformations. These states are labeled by elements of the Grassmannian Gr(N,2), they possess a direct geometrical interpretation in terms of framed polyhedra and are shown to be related to the well-known coherent intertwiners.Comment: 23 page

Non-Commutativity of Effective Space-Time Coordinates and the Minimal Length

Considering that a position measurement can effectively involve a momentum-dependent shift and rescaling of the "true" space-time coordinates, we construct a set of effective space-time coordinates which are naturally non-commutative. They lead to a minimum length and are shown to be related to Snyder's coordinates and the five-dimensional formulation of Deformed Special Relativity. This effective approach then provides a natural physical interpretation for both the extra fifth dimension and the deformed momenta appearing in this context.Comment: 5 page