The quantum theory of ur objects postulates that all existing physical objects and their properties are constructed from fundamental objects called ur objects being described by an element of a two dimensional complex Hilbert space. This approach is based on the assumption that quantum theory represents a theory being constitutive for human knowledge. Physical objects are characterized by the information one can gain from them being contained in the quantum state they are described by. Since every Hilbert space can be represented as a tensor product of two dimensional Hilbert spaces, one is led to the ur objects. According to this approach relativistic quantum fields and thus the existence of a Minkowski space-time are the consequence of an iteration of a quantization of binary alternatives. In the original formulation there was only obtained a description of quantum fields on a flat Minkowski space-time. In this work there is made the attempt to incorporate general relativity and to describe the gravitational field within this approach. Thus the existence of a (3+1)-dimensional space-time in the sense of general relativity is assumed to be a consequence of quantum theory interpreted in an abstract sense.
Based on the de Broglie-Bohm relativistic quantum theory of motion we show that the conformal formulation of general relativity, being linked with a Weyl-integrable geometry, may implicitly contain the quantum effects of matter. In this context the Mach's principle is discussed.
Quantum relativity as a generalized, or rather deformed, version of Einstein relativity with a linear realization on a classical six-geometry beyond the familiar setting of space-time offer a new framework to think about the quantum space-time structure. The formulation requires two deformations to be implemented through imposing two fundamental invariants. We take them to be the independent Planck mass and Planck length. Together, they gives the quantum $\hbar$. The scheme leads to {\small \boldmath\protect SO(2,4)} as the relativity symmetry. The quantum world has an AdS$_5$ `classical' geom…
In the homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Robertson-Walker minisuperspace model, it is known that there are no Euclidean wormhole solutions in the pure gravity system. Here it is demonstrated explicitly that in Taub cosmology, which is one of the simplest anisotropic cosmology models, wormhole solutions do exist in pure general relativity in both classical and quantum contexts.
New progress in loop gravity has lead to a simple model of `general-covariant quantum field theory'. I sum up the definition of the model in self-contained form, in terms accessible to those outside the subfield. I emphasize its formulation as a generalized topological quantum field theory with an infinite number of degrees of freedom, and its relation to lattice theory. I list the indications supporting the conjecture that the model is related to general relativity and UV finite.
We apply the 1+1+2 covariant approach to describe a general static and spherically symmetric relativistic stellar object which contains two interacting fluids. We then use the 1+1+2 equations to derive the corresponding Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equations in covariant form in the isotropic, non-interacting case. These equations are used to obtain new exact solutions by means of direct resolution and reconstruction techniques. Finally, we show that the generating theorem known for the single fluid case can also be used to obtain two-fluid solutions from single fluid ones.
We analyse the quantum geometry of 3-dimensional deformed special relativity (DSR) and the notion of spacetime points in such a context, identified with coherent states that minimize the uncertainty relations among spacetime coordinates operators. We construct this system of coherent states in both the Riemannian and Lorentzian case, and study their properties and their geometric interpretation.
We demonstrate that there are theories that exhibit spontaneous scalarization in the strong gravity regime while having General Relativity with a constant scalar as a cosmological attractor. We identify the minimal model that has this property and discuss its extensions.
The idea of quantum relativity as a generalized, or rather deformed, version of Einstein (special) relativity has been taking shape in recent years. Following the perspective of deformations, while staying within the framework of Lie algebra, we implement explicitly a simple linear realization of the relativity symmetry, and explore systematically the resulting physical interpretations. Some suggestions we make may sound radical, but are arguably natural within the context of our formulation. Our work may provide a new perspective on the subject matter, complementary to the previous approach(e…
First steps in incorporating Nottale's scale-relativity principle to string theory and extended objects are taken. Scale Relativity is to scales what motion Relativity is to velocities. The universal, absolute, impassible, invariant scale under dilatations, in Nature, is taken to be the Planck scale which is not the same as the string scale. Starting with Nambu-Goto actions for strings and other extended objects, we show that the principle of scale-relativity invariance of the world-volume measure associated with the extended objects ( Lorentzian-scalings transformations with respect to the re…
In quantum field theory there is now a well developed technique, effective field theory, which allows one to obtain low energy quantum predictions in ``non-renormalizable'' theories, using only the degrees of freedom and interactions appropriate for those energies. Whether or not general relativity is truly fundamental, at low energies it is automatically described as a quantum effective field theory and this allows a consistent framework for quantum gravity at ordinary energies. I briefly describe the nature and limits of the technique.
The physical concept of locality is first analyzed in the special relativistic quantum regime, and compared with that of microcausality and the local commutativity of quantum fields. Its extrapolation to quantum general relativity on quantum bundles over curved spacetime is then described. It is shown that the resulting formulation of quantum-geometric locality based on the concept of local quantum frame incorporating a fundamental length embodies the key geometric and topological aspects of this concept. Taken in conjunction with the strong equivalence principle and the path-integral formulat…
In the presence of a cosmological constant, interpreted as a purely geometric entity, absence of matter is represented by a de Sitter spacetime. As a consequence, ordinary Poincare' special relativity is no longer valid and must be replaced by a de Sitter special relativity. By considering the kinematics of a spinless particle in a de Sitter spacetime, we study the geodesics of this spacetime, the ensuing definitions of canonical momenta, and explore possible implications for quantum mechanics.
The modification of the quantum mechanical commutators in a relativistic theory with an invariant length scale (DSR) is identified. Two examples are discussed where a classical behavior is approached in one case when the energy approaches the inverse of the invariant length which appears as a cutoff in the energy and in the second case when the mass is much larger than the inverse of the invariant length.
These notes are an introduction to General Relativity as a Quantum Effective Field Theory, following the material given in a short course on the subject at EPFL. The intent is to develop General Relativity starting from a quantum field theoretic viewpoint, and to introduce some of the techniques needed to understand the subject.
A model is proposed to demonstrate that classical general relativity can emerge from loop quantum gravity, in a relational description of gravitational field in terms of coordinates given by matter. Local Dirac observables and coherent states are defined to explore physical content of the model. Expectation values of commutators between the observables for the coherent states recover the four-dimensional diffeomorphism algebra and the large-scale dynamics of the gravitational field relative to the matter coordinates. Both results conform with general relativity up to calculable corrections nea…
We consider general relativity with a cosmological constant as a perturbative expansion around a completely solvable diffeomorphism invariant field theory. This theory is the $Λ\to\infty$ limit of general relativity. This allows an explicit perturbative computational setup in which the quantum states of the theory and the classical observables can be explicitly computed. The zeroth order corresponds to highly degenerate space-times with vanishing volume. Perturbations give rise to space-times with non-vanishing volumes in a natural way. The spectrum of area- and volume-related observables cons…
We argue that a (slightly) curved space-time probed with a finite resolution, equivalently a finite minimal length, is effectively described by a flat non-commutative space-time. More precisely, a small cosmological constant (so a constant curvature) leads the kappa-deformed Poincaré flat space-time of deformed special relativity (DSR) theories. This point of view eventually helps understanding some puzzling features of DSR. It also explains how DSR can be considered as an effective flat (low energy) limit of a (true) quantum gravity theory. This point of view leads us to consider a possible g…
The Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario concerns the existence of generic singularity of general relativity. At the singularity, there is a breakdown of all known laws of physics. Quantization of this scenario leads, however, to regular quantum evolution. The singularity is avoided by a quantum bounce. It is fairly probable that quantum general relativity, to be constructed, would be free from singularities. Thus, it could be used to address issues such as the quantum fates of cosmological and black holes singularities.
Must a theory of quantum gravity have some truth to it if it can recover general relativity in some limit of the theory? This paper answers this question in the negative by indicating that general relativity is multiply realizable in quantum gravity. The argument is inspired by spacetime functionalism - multiple realizability being a central tenet of functionalism - and proceeds via three case studies: induced gravity, thermodynamic gravity, and entanglement gravity. In these, general relativity in the form of the Einstein field equations can be recovered from elements that are either manifest…
This is a review of some of the concepts and results of the effective field theory treatment of quantum general relativity. Included are lessons of low energy quantum gravity, and a discussion of the limits of effective field theory techniques.
We show that General Relativity coupled to a quantum field theory generically leads to non-local effects in the matter sector. These non-local effects can be described by non-local higher dimensional operators which remarkably have an approximate shift symmetry. When applied to inflationary models, our results imply that small non-Gaussianities are a generic feature of models based on General Relativity coupled to matter fields. However, these effects are too small to be observable in the Cosmic Microwave Background.
We consider one-loop effects in general relativity which result in quantum long-range corrections to the Newton law, as well as to the gravitational spin-dependent and velocity-dependent interactions. Some contributions to these effects can be interpreted as quantum corrections to the Schwarzschild and Kerr metric.
I review the conceptual, algebraical, and geometrical structure of Doubly Special Relativity. I also speculate about the possible relevance of DSR for quantum gravity phenomenology.
Points of conflict between the principles of general relativity and quantum theory are highlighted. I argue that the current language of QFT is inadequete to deal with gravity and review attempts to identify some of the features which are likely to present in the correct theory of quantum gravity.
In this article, we utilize the insights gleaned from our recent formulation of space(-time), as well as dynamical picture of quantum mechanics and its classical approximation, from the relativity symmetry perspective in order to push further into the realm of the proposed fundamental relativity symmetry $SO(2,4)$ of our quantum relativity project. We explicitly trace how the diverse actors in this story change through various contraction limits, paying careful attention to the relevant physical units, in order to place all known relativity theories -- quantum and classical -- within a single …
We recall some of the obstacles which arise when one tries to reconcile the general theory of relativity with quantum theory. We consider the possibility that gravitation theories which include torsion, and not only curvature, provide better insight into a quantum theory of gravity. We speculate on how the Dirac equation and Einstein gravity could be thought of as limiting cases of a gravitation theory which possesses torsion.
The analogy between General Relativity and monopole physics is pointed out and the presence of a 3-cocycle which corresponds to a source leads to discretization of field momentum. This is analogous to the same phenomena in monopole physics.
The Nelson stochastic mechanics is derived as a consequence of the basic physical principles such as the principle of relativity of observations and the invariance of the action quantum. The unitary group of quantum mechanics is represented as the transformations of the systems of perturbing devices. It is argued that the physical spacetime has a stochastic nature, and that quantum mechanics in Nelson's formulation correctly describes this stochasticity.
Quantum mechanics, information theory, and relativity theory are the basic foundations of theoretical physics. The acquisition of information from a quantum system is the interface of classical and quantum physics. Essential tools for its description are Kraus matrices and positive operator valued measures (POVMs). Special relativity imposes severe restrictions on the transfer of information between distant systems. Quantum entropy is not a Lorentz covariant concept. Lorentz transformations of reduced density matrices for entangled systems may not be completely positive maps. Quantum field the…
This note is to bring to the reader's attention the fact that general relativity and quantum mechanics differ from each other in one main aspect. General relativity is based on the diffeomorphism covariant formulation of the laws of physics while quantum mechanics is constructed such that its fundamental laws remain invariant to a change of topology. It is the goal of this paper to show that in order to obtain a complete description of quantum gravity one has to extend the principle of diffeomorphism invariance from general relativity in the sense of quantum mechanics i.e. the laws of physics …
In this article we elaborate on a recently proposed interpretation of DSR as an effective measurement theory in the presence of non-negligible (albeit small) quantum gravitational fluctuations. We provide several heuristic arguments to explain how such a new theory can emerge and discuss the possible observational consequences of this framework.
This report is an extension of previous one hep-th/9812189. Several quantum mechanical wave equations for $p$-branes are proposed. The most relevant $p$-brane quantum mechanical wave equations determine the quantum dynamics involving the creation/destruction of $p$-dimensional loops of topology $S^p$, moving in a $D$ dimensional spacetime background, in the quantum state $Φ$. To implement full covariance we are forced to enlarge the ordinary Relativity principle to a $new$ Relativity principle, suggested earlier by the author based on the construction of {\bf C}-space, and also by Pezzaglia's …
There ought to exist a description of quantum field theory which does not depend on an external classical time. To achieve this goal, in a recent paper we have proposed a non-commutative special relativity in which space-time and matter degrees of freedom are treated as classical matrices with arbitrary commutation relations, and a space-time line element is defined using a trace. In the present paper, following the theory of Trace Dynamics, we construct a statistical thermodynamics for the non-commutative special relativity, and show that one arrives at a generalized quantum dynamics in which…
An argument is presented that if a theory of quantum gravity is physically discrete at the Planck scale and the theory recovers General Relativity as an approximation, then, at the current stage of our knowledge, causal sets must arise within the theory, even if they are not its basis. We show in particular that an apparent alternative to causal sets, viz. a certain sort of discrete Lorentzian simplicial complex, cannot recover General Relativistic spacetimes in the appropriately unique way. For it cannot discriminate between Minkowski spacetime and a spacetime with a certain sort of gravitati…
A space of kinematic quantum states for the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity is constructed by means of projective techniques. The states are kinematic in this sense that their construction bases merely on the structure of the phase space of the theory and does not take into account constraints on it. The space of quantum states is meant to serve as an element of a canonical quantization of the theory.
The geometric form of standard quantum mechanics is compatible with the two postulates: 1) The laws of physics are invariant under the choice of experimental setup and 2) Every quantum observation or event is intrinsically statistical. These postulates remain compatible within a background independent extension of quantum theory with a local intrinsic time implying the relativity of the concept of a quantum event. In this extension the space of quantum events becomes dynamical and only individual quantum events make sense observationally. At the core of such a general theory of quantum relativ…
The issues related to bringing together the principles of general relativity and quantum theory are discussed. After briefly summarising the points of conflict between the two formalisms I focus on four specific themes in which some contact has been established in the past between GR and quantum field theory: (i) The role of planck length in the microstructure of spacetime (ii) The role of quantum effects in cosmology and origin of the universe (iii) The thermodynamics of spacetimes with horizons and especially the concept of entropy related to spacetime geometry (iv) The problem of the cosmol…
General relativity can be recast as a theory of connections by performing a canonical transformation on its phase space. In this form, its (kinematical) structure is closely related to that of Yang-Mills theory and topological field theories. Over the past few years, a variety of techniques have been developed to quantize all these theories non-perturbatively. These developments are summarized with special emphasis on loop space methods and their applications to quantum gravity.
This article is meant as a summary and introduction to the ideas of effective field theory as applied to gravitational systems. Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Effective Field Theories 3. Low-Energy Quantum Gravity 4. Explicit Quantum Calculations 5. Conclusions
Global One--Dimensional Quantum General Relativity is the toy model with nontrivial field theoretical content, describing classical one-dimensional massive bosonic fields related to any 3+1 metric, where the dimension is a volume of three-dimensional embedding. In fact it constitutes the midisuperspatial Quantum Gravity model. We use one-particle density operator method in order to building macrostates thermodynamics related with any 3+1 metric. Taking the Boltzmann gas limit, which is given by the energy equipartition law for the Bose-Einstein gas of space quantum states generated from the Bo…
General relativity and quantum mechanism are two separate rules of modern physics explaining how nature works. Both theories are accurate, but the direct connection between two theories was not yet clarified. Recently, researchers blur the line between classical and quantum physics by connecting chaos and entanglement. Here, we showed the early reported extended HM theory that included the general relativity can also be used to recover the classic chaos equations and even the Schrodinger equation in quantum physics, suggesting the extended theory of harmonic maps may act as a universal theory …
We summarize a recently proposed concrete programme for investigating the (semi)classical limit of canonical, Lorentzian, continuum quantum general relativity in four spacetime dimensions. The analysis is based on a novel set of coherent states labelled by graphs. These fit neatly together with an Infinite Tensor Product (ITP) extension of the currently used Hilbert space. The ITP construction enables us to give rigorous meaning to the infinite volume (thermodynamic) limit of the theory which has been out of reach so far.
The Poincaré-Snyder relativity was introduced in an earlier paper of ours as an extended form of Einstein relativity obtained by appropriate limiting setting of the full Quantum Relativity. The latter, with fundamental constants $\hbar$ and $G$ built into the symmetry, is supposed to be the relativity of quantum space-time. Studying the mechanics of Poincaré-Snyder relativity is an important means to get to confront the great challenge of constructing the dynamics of Quantum Relativity. The mechanics will also be of interest on its own, plausibly yielding prediction accessible to experiments. …
We present the first part of an analysis aimed at introducing variables which are suitable for constructing a space of quantum states for the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity via projective techniques - the space is meant to be applied in a canonical quantization of the theory. We show that natural configuration variables on the phase space of the theory can be used to construct a space of quantum states which however possesses an undesired property. We introduce then a family of new variables such that some elements of the family can be applied to build a space of quantum states …
The simple quantum gravity model, based on a new conjecture within the canonically quantized 3+1 general relativity, is presented. The conjecture states that matter fields are functionals of an embedding volume form only, and reduces the quantum geometrodynamics. By dimensional reduction the resulting theory is presented in the form of the Dirac equation, and application of the Fock quantization with the diagonalization procedure yields construction of the appropriate quantum field theory. The 1D wave function is derived, the corresponding 3-dimensional manifolds are discussed, and physical sc…
We demonstrate Yokoyama gaugeon formalism for the Abelian one-form gauge (Maxwell) as well as for Abelian two-form gauge theory in the very special relativity (VSR) framework. In VSR scenario, the extended action due to introduction of gaugeon fields also possesses form invariance under quantum gauge transformations. It is observed that the gaugeon field together with gauge field naturally acquire mass, which is different from the conventional Higgs mechanism. The quantum gauge transformation implements a shift in gauge parameter. Further, we analyse the BRST symmetric gaugeon formalism in VSR…
We consider a single free spin 1/2 particle. The reduced density matrix for its spin is not covariant under Lorentz transformations. The spin entropy is not a relativistic scalar and has no invariant meaning.
Based on an identified quantum relativity symmetry the contraction of which gives the Newtonian approximation of Galilean relativity, a quantum model of the physical space can be formulated with the Newtonian space seen in a way as the classical approximation. Matching picture for the observable algebra as the corresponding representation of the group C* -algebra, describes the full dynamical pictures equally successfully. Extension of the scheme to a Lorentz covariant setting and beyond will also be addressed.The formulation of quantum mechanics allows the theory to be seen in a new picture i…
A dynamical, non-Euclidean spacetime geometry in general relativity theory implies the possibility of gravitational radiation. Here we explore novel methods of detecting such radiation from astrophysical sources by means of matter-wave interferometers (MIGOs), using atomic beams emanating from supersonic atomic sources that are further cooled and collimated by means of optical molasses. While the sensitivities of such MIGOs compare favorably with LIGO and LISA, the sizes of MIGOs can be orders of magnitude smaller, and their bandwidths wider. Using a pedagogical approach, we place this problem…
The successful background-independent quantization of Loop Quantum Gravity relies on the key observation that classical General Relativity can be cast into the connection-dynamical formalism with the structure group of SU(2). Due to this particular formalism, Loop Quantum Gravity was generally considered as a quantization scheme that applies only to General Relativity. However, we will show that the nonperturbative quantization procedure of Loop Quantum Gravity can be extended to a rather general class of metric theories of gravity, which have received increased attention recently due to motiv…
We show how the Weyl quantum walk derived from principles in Ref. [1], enjoying a nonlinear Lorentz symmetry of dynamics, allows one to introduce Hopf algebras for position and momentum of the emerging particle. We focus on two special models of Hopf algebras--the usual Poincaré and the k-Poincaré algebras.
It is shown how a Doubly-Special Relativity model can emerge from a quantum cellular automaton description of the evolution of countably many interacting quantum systems. We consider a one-dimensional automaton that spawns the Dirac evolution in the relativistic limit of small wave-vectors and masses (in Planck units). The assumption of invariance of dispersion relations for boosted observers leads to a non-linear representation of the Lorentz group on the $(ω,k)$ space, with an additional invariant given by the wave-vector $k=π/2$. The space-time reconstructed from the $(ω,k)$ space is intrin…
In 1935 Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) pointed out that Quantum Mechanics apparently implied some mysterious, instantaneous action at a distance. This paradox is supposed to be related to the probabilistic nature of the theory, but since deterministic alternatives involving "Hidden Variables" hardly agree with the experiments, the scientific community is now accepting this ``quantum nonlocality" as if it were a reality. However, I have argued recently that Quantum Electrodynamics is free from the EPR paradox, due to an indetermination on the number of the unobserved "soft photons" that can…
In this paper we compute the high-temperature effective Lagrangian for the quantum electrodynamics defined in the framework of Very Special Relativity (VSR). The main aspect of the VSR setting is that it modifies the gauge invariance, admitting now different types of interactions appearing in a nonlocal form. In order to explore the richness of these new couplings, we employ the usual Matsubara imaginary-time formalism to evaluate the effective Lagrangian at one and two-loop order. We illustrate the leading VSR Lorentz violation modifications by computing high-temperature internal energy densi…
This is an introduction to the by now fifteen years old research field of canonical quantum general relativity, sometimes called "loop quantum gravity". The term "modern" in the title refers to the fact that the quantum theory is based on formulating classical general relativity as a theory of connections rather than metrics as compared to in original version due to Arnowitt, Deser and Misner. Canonical quantum general relativity is an attempt to define a mathematically rigorous, non-perturbative, background independent theory of Lorentzian quantum gravity in four spacetime dimensions in the c…
