Quantum Cosmology

Quantum Cosmology PDF Author: Martin Bojowald
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1441982752
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
Consequences of quantum gravity on grander scales are expected to be enormous: only such a theory can show how black holes really behave and where our universe came from. Applications of loop quantum gravity to cosmology have especially by now shed much light on cosmic evolution of a universe in a fundamental, microscopic description. Modern techniques are explained in this book which demonstrate how the universe could have come from a non-singular phase before the big bang, how equations for the evolution of structure can be derived, but also what fundamental limitations remain to our knowledge of the universe before the big bang. The following topics will be covered in this book: Hamiltonian cosmology: a general basic treatment of isotropy, perturbations and their role for observations; useful in general cosmology. Effective equations: an efficient way to evaluate equations of quantum gravity, which is also useful in other areas of physics where quantum theory is involved. Loop quantization: a new formalism for the atomic picture of space-time; usually presented at a sophisticated mathematical level, but evaluated here from an intuitive physical side. The book will start with physical motivations, rather than mathematical developments which is more common in other expositions of this field. All the required mathematical methods will be presented, but will not distract the reader from seeing the underlying physics. Simple but representative models will be presented first to show the basic features, which are then used to work upwards to a general description of quantum gravity and its applications in cosmology. This will make the book accessible to a more general physics readership.

Quantum Cosmology

Quantum Cosmology PDF Author: Martin Bojowald
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1441982752
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Get Book Here

Book Description
Consequences of quantum gravity on grander scales are expected to be enormous: only such a theory can show how black holes really behave and where our universe came from. Applications of loop quantum gravity to cosmology have especially by now shed much light on cosmic evolution of a universe in a fundamental, microscopic description. Modern techniques are explained in this book which demonstrate how the universe could have come from a non-singular phase before the big bang, how equations for the evolution of structure can be derived, but also what fundamental limitations remain to our knowledge of the universe before the big bang. The following topics will be covered in this book: Hamiltonian cosmology: a general basic treatment of isotropy, perturbations and their role for observations; useful in general cosmology. Effective equations: an efficient way to evaluate equations of quantum gravity, which is also useful in other areas of physics where quantum theory is involved. Loop quantization: a new formalism for the atomic picture of space-time; usually presented at a sophisticated mathematical level, but evaluated here from an intuitive physical side. The book will start with physical motivations, rather than mathematical developments which is more common in other expositions of this field. All the required mathematical methods will be presented, but will not distract the reader from seeing the underlying physics. Simple but representative models will be presented first to show the basic features, which are then used to work upwards to a general description of quantum gravity and its applications in cosmology. This will make the book accessible to a more general physics readership.

A First Course in Loop Quantum Gravity

A First Course in Loop Quantum Gravity PDF Author: Rodolfo Gambini
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191003239
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 192

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Book Description
This book provides an accessible introduction to loop quantum gravity and some of its applications, at a level suitable for undergraduate students and others with only a minimal knowledge of college level physics. In particular it is not assumed that the reader is familiar with general relativity and only minimally familiar with quantum mechanics and Hamiltonian mechanics. Most chapters end with problems that elaborate on the text, and aid learning. Applications such as loop quantum cosmology, black hole entropy and spin foams are briefly covered. The text is ideally suited for an undergraduate course in the senior year of a physics major. It can also be used to introduce undergraduates to general relativity and quantum field theory as part of a 'special topics' type of course.

Loop Quantum Gravity For Everyone

Loop Quantum Gravity For Everyone PDF Author: Rodolfo Gambini
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811211973
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 103

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Book Description
'In this remarkably well-written text, the authors introduce readers gently to the conceptual bricks of LQG without using any mathematics (quite an achievement). The debate started with the discovery that the space-time geometry of general relativity can be written in terms of the electromagnetic field. This led to intersecting graphs called loops. Now known as spin networks, they are the foundations of LQG. This slender volume discusses applications of LQG to black holes and cosmology and introduces the notion of spin foam, acknowledging that as yet the theory, though elegant, has no experimental confirmation … This book offers a fascinating introduction to an esoteric realm otherwise accessible to only a fortunate few.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty researchers.'CHOICEChoice Outstanding Academic Title for 2020Loop quantum gravity is one of the main contenders to unify Einstein's general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, therefore providing a quantum theory of gravity. If these words do not mean much to you, do not worry, we will define them in simple terms.This book describes loop quantum gravity and its applications to cosmology, black holes and spin foams without using formulas. It is concise and has a light style that makes for easy reading yet covering many of the cutting-edge developments in the field. It also addresses some of the controversies that surround these topics as they are incomplete science.

100 Years of Relativity

100 Years of Relativity PDF Author: Abhay Ashtekar
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812563946
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 527

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Book Description
Divided into three parts, this volume focuses on a summary of how relativity theories were born. It also discusses the ramifications of general relativity, such as black holes, space-time singularities, gravitational waves, the large scale structure of the cosmos, and more. It includes summaries of radical changes in the notions of space and time.

Covariant Loop Quantum Gravity

Covariant Loop Quantum Gravity PDF Author: Carlo Rovelli
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107069629
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
A comprehensible introduction to the most fascinating research in theoretical physics: advanced quantum gravity. Ideal for researchers and graduate students.

Loop Quantum Gravity

Loop Quantum Gravity PDF Author: Abhay Ashtekar
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
ISBN: 9789813209923
Category : Quantum cosmology
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"Over the last decade, several important advances have occurred, that include the continuum and classical limit of the non-perturbative theory on the conceptual side, and concrete ideas on confronting quantum gravity with observations in cosmology. This volume takes the reader from basics to recent advances, thereby bridging an important gap. It presents a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in loop quantum gravity from the perspective of young leading researchers. The goal is two-fold: to provide a contemporary introduction to the entire field for students and post-docs and, an overview of the current status for more senior researchers. These overviews present the latest developments that are not discussed in existing books, particularly the applications to the cosmology of the early universe and quantum aspects of black holes"--

Quantum Gravity

Quantum Gravity PDF Author: Carlo Rovelli
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139456156
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 516

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Book Description
Quantum gravity is perhaps the most important open problem in fundamental physics. It is the problem of merging quantum mechanics and general relativity, the two great conceptual revolutions in the physics of the twentieth century. The loop and spinfoam approach, presented in this 2004 book, is one of the leading research programs in the field. The first part of the book discusses the reformulation of the basis of classical and quantum Hamiltonian physics required by general relativity. The second part covers the basic technical research directions. Appendices include a detailed history of the subject of quantum gravity, hard-to-find mathematical material, and a discussion of some philosophical issues raised by the subject. This fascinating text is ideal for graduate students entering the field, as well as researchers already working in quantum gravity. It will also appeal to philosophers and other scholars interested in the nature of space and time.

Quantum Space

Quantum Space PDF Author: Jim Baggott
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019253680X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
Today we are blessed with two extraordinarily successful theories of physics. The first is Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes the large-scale behaviour of matter in a curved spacetime. This theory is the basis for the standard model of big bang cosmology. The discovery of gravitational waves at the LIGO observatory in the US (and then Virgo, in Italy) is only the most recent of this theory's many triumphs. The second is quantum mechanics. This theory describes the properties and behaviour of matter and radiation at their smallest scales. It is the basis for the standard model of particle physics, which builds up all the visible constituents of the universe out of collections of quarks, electrons and force-carrying particles such as photons. The discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN in Geneva is only the most recent of this theory's many triumphs. But, while they are both highly successful, these two structures leave a lot of important questions unanswered. They are also based on two different interpretations of space and time, and are therefore fundamentally incompatible. We have two descriptions but, as far as we know, we've only ever had one universe. What we need is a quantum theory of gravity. Approaches to formulating such a theory have primarily followed two paths. One leads to String Theory, which has for long been fashionable, and about which much has been written. But String Theory has become mired in problems. In this book, Jim Baggott describes

Once Before Time

Once Before Time PDF Author: Martin Bojowald
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307474550
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
In his introduction to a revolutionary theory of the cosmos, Martin Bojowald shows how the big bang theory may give way to the big bounce theory, which describes our universe as an eternal series of expansions and contractions, with no beginning and no end. In 2000, Bojowald, then a twenty-seven-year-old postdoctoral student at Pennsylvania State University, used a relatively new theory called loop quantum gravity—a cunning combination of Einstein’s theory of gravity with quantum mechanics—to create a simple model of the universe. Loop quantum cosmology, or LQC, was born, and with it, a theory that managed to do something even Einstein’s general theory of relativity had failed to do—illuminate the very birth of the universe.

Modern Canonical Quantum General Relativity

Modern Canonical Quantum General Relativity PDF Author: Thomas Thiemann
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 113946759X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 739

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Book Description
This book provides a complete treatise of the canonical quantisation of general relativity and the loop quantum gravity theory. Mathematical concepts are provided, so it can be read by graduate students with a basic knowledge of quantum field theory or general relativity.