Quantum gravity

Author(s)

• Kiefer, Claus

Bibliographic Information

Quantum gravity

Claus Kiefer

（The international series of monographs on physics, 124）（Oxford science publications）

Clarendon, 2004

Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 282-304) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The search for a quantum theory of the gravitational field is one of the great open problems in theoretical physics. This book presents a self-contained discussion of the concepts, methods and applications that can be expected in such a theory. The two main approaches to its construction - the direct quantisation of Einstein's general theory of relativity and string theory - are covered. Whereas the first attempts to construct a viable theory for the gravitational field alone, string theory assumes that a quantum theory of gravity will be achieved only through a unification of all the interactions. However, both employ the general method of quantisation of constrained systems, which is described together with illustrative examples relevant for quantum gravity. There is a detailed presentation of the main approaches employed in quantum general relativity: path-integral quantisation, the background-field method and canonical quantum gravity in the metric, connection and loop formulations. The discussion of string theory centres around its quantum-gravitational aspects and the comparison with quantum general relativity. Physical applications discussed at length include the quantisation of black holes, quantum cosmology, the indications of a discrete structure of spacetime, and the origin of irreversibility. This book will be of interest to researchers and students working in relativity and gravitation, cosmology, quantum field theory and related topics. It will also be of interest to mathematicians and philosophers of science.

Table of Contents

• 1. Why quantum gravity?
• 2. Covariant approaches to quantum gravity
• 3. Parameterised and relational systems
• 4. Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity
• 5. Quantum geometrodynamics
• 6. Canonical quantum gravity with connections and loops
• 7. Quantisation of black holes
• 8. Quantum cosmology
• 9. String theory
• 10. Quantum gravity and the interpretation of quantum theory
• 11. References

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BA6783290X
• ISBN:
  • 0198506872
• Country Code: uk
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Oxford
• Pages/Volumes: ix, 308 p.
• Size: 25 cm
• Classification:
  • DC22 : 530.143
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Quantum gravity
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA00185191
  • BA00281843