| Abstract: | ![]()
A midisuperspace model is a field theoryobtained by symmetry reduction of a parent gravitationaltheory. Such models have proven useful for exploring theclassical and quantum dynamics of the gravitational field. I present three recent classes ofresults pertinent to canonical quantization of vacuumgeneral relativity in the context of midisuperspacemodels. (1) I give necessary and sufficient conditions such that a given symmetry reduction can beperformed at the level of the Lagrangian or Hamiltonian.(2) I discuss the Hamiltonian formulation of modelsbased upon cylindrical and toroidal symmetry. In particular, I explain how these models can beidentified with parametrized field theories of wavemaps; thus a natural strategy for canonical quantizationis available. (3) The quantization of a parametrized field theory, such as the midisuperspace modelsconsidered in (2), requires construction of a quantumfield theory on a fixed (flat) spacetime that allows fortime evolution along arbitrary foliations of spacetime. I discuss some recent results on thepossibility of finding such a quantum fieldtheory. |
