On the general covariance and strong equivalence principles in quantum general relativity

The various physical aspects of the general relativistic principles of covariance and strong equivalence are discussed, and their mathematical formulations are analyzed. All these aspects are shown to be present in classical general relativity, although no contemporary formulation of canonical or covariant quantum gravity has succeeded to incorporate them all. This has, in part, motivated the recent introduction of a geometro-stochastic framework for quantum general relativity, in which the classical frame bundles that underlie the formulation of parallel transport in classical general relativity are replaced by quantum frame bundles. It is shown that quantum frames can take over the role played by complete sets of observables in conventional quantum theory, so that they can mediate the natural transference of the general covariance and the strong equivalence principles from the classical to the quantum general relativistic regime. This results in a geometrostochastic mode of quantum propagation in general relativistic quantum bundles, which is mathematically implemented by path integration methods based on parallel transport along horizontal lifts of geodesics for the vacuum expectation values of a quantum gravitational field in a quantum spacetime supermanifold. The covariance features of this field are embedded in a quantum gravitational supergroup, which incorporates Poincaré as well as diffeomorphism invariance, and resolves the issue of time in quantum gravity.     

Physical foundations of the new theory of gravitation

It is shown that in generalizing simultaneously the special theory of relativity and the Newtonian theory of gravitation into a curved-space theory of gravity one needs to satisfy second-order correspondence conditions as well as the usual first-order ones. It is further shown that the imposition of these second-order conditions leads to a locally Lorentz invariant spin-2 field theory of gravity which is in agreement with all the known facts concerning gravitation. The second-order correspondence requirements endow the curved-space theory of gravitation with experimentally and theoretically novel features which will be discussed in some detail.     

Simple Derivation of Minimum Length, Minimum Dipole Moment and Lack of Space–Time Continuity

The principle of maximum power makes it possible to summarize special relativity, quantum theory and general relativity in one fundamental limit principle each. Special relativity contains an upper limit to speed; following Bohr, quantum theory is based on a lower limit to action; recently, a maximum power given by c ⁵/4G was shown to be equivalent to the full field equations of general relativity. Taken together, these three fundamental principles imply a limit value for every physical observable, from acceleration to size. The new, precise limit values differ from the usual Planck values by numerical prefactors of order unity. Among others, minimum length and time intervals appear. The limits imply that elementary particles are not point-like and suggest a lower limit on electric dipole values. The minimum intervals also imply that the non-continuity of space–time is an inevitable result of the unification of quantum theory and relativity, independently of the approach used. PACS numbers: 04.20.Cv; 13.40.Em; 04.60.-m.     

The Role of Time in Relational Quantum Theories

We propose a solution to the problem of time for systems with a single global Hamiltonian constraint. Our solution stems from the observation that, for these theories, conventional gauge theory methods fail to capture the full classical dynamics of the system and must therefore be deemed inappropriate. We propose a new strategy for consistently quantizing systems with a relational notion of time that does capture the full classical dynamics of the system and allows for evolution parametrized by an equitable internal clock. This proposal contains the minimal temporal structure necessary to retain the ordering of events required to describe classical evolution. In the context of shape dynamics (an equivalent formulation of general relativity that is locally scale invariant and free of the local problem of time) our proposal can be shown to constitute a natural methodology for describing dynamical evolution in quantum gravity and to lead to a quantum theory analogous to the Dirac quantization of unimodular gravity.     

Between general relativity and quantum theory

Some possibilities of reconciling general relativity with quantum theory are discussed. The procedure of quantization is certainly not unique, but depends upon the choice of the coordinate conditions. Most versions of quantization predict the existence of gravitons, but it is also possible to formulate a quantum theory with a classical gravity whereby the expectation values ofT _µv constitute the sources of the classical metric field.     

String theory and cosmological singularities

In general relativity space-like or null singularities are common: they imply that ‘time’ can have a beginning or end. Well-known examples are singularities inside black holes and initial or final singularities in expanding or contracting universes. In recent times, string theory is providing new perspectives of such singularities which may lead to an understanding of these in the standard framework of time evolution in quantum mechanics. In this article, we describe some of these approaches.      

Quantum Gauge General Relativity

Based on gauge principle, a new model on quantum gravity is proposed in the frame work of quantum gauge theory of gravity. The model has local gravitational gauge symmetry, and the field equation of the gravitational gauge field is just the famous Einstein‘s field equation. Because of this reason, this model is called quantum gauge general relativity, which is the consistent unification of quantum theory and general relativity. The model proposed in this paper is a perturbatively renormalizable quantum gravity, which is one of the most important advantage of the quantum gauge general relativity proposed in this paper. Another important advantage of the quantum gauge general relativity is that it can explain both classical tests of gravity and quantum effects of gravitational interactions, such as gravitational phase effects found in COW experiments and gravitational shielding effects found in Podkletnov experiments.     

Gravity,Quantum Fields and Quantum Information: Problems with Classical Channel and Stochastic Theories

In recent years an increasing number of papers have attempted to mimic or supplant quantum field theory in discussions of issues related to gravity by the tools and through the perspective of quantum information theory, often in the context of alternative quantum theories. In this article, we point out three common problems in such treatments. First, we show that the notion of interactions mediated by an information channel is not, in general, equivalent to the treatment of interactions by quantum field theory. When used to describe gravity, this notion may lead to inconsistencies with general relativity. Second, we point out that in general one cannot replace a quantum field by a classical stochastic field, or mock up the effects of quantum fluctuations by that of classical stochastic sources (noises), because in so doing important quantum features such as coherence and entanglement will be left out. Third, we explain how under specific conditions semi-classical and stochastic theories indeed can be formulated from their quantum origins and play a role at certain regimes of interest.     

A non-covariant theory of gravitation,I

Homogeneous isotropic models of the universe, based on the general theory of relativity, lead to the existence of a preferred frame of reference, which is similar to the absolute space of, Newton, and a preferred time coordinate, which resembles the absolute time of Newton. These concepts seem to be in contradiction to the principle of covariance on which the general relativity theory is based. A theory of gravitation is therefore proposed which uses the world picture of general relativity but is not covariant. In the three crucial tests, the proposed theory gives the same results as the general relativity theory. However, in contrast to general relativity, the present theory predicts the emission of gravitational waves by spherically symmetric systems, and gravitational waves are found, in general, to have both transverse and longitudinal components.     

Relativistie Cosmology With Quantum Corrections

Homogeneous isotropic, anisotropic, and inhomogeneous cosmological models are studied using Einstein's general relativity with quntum corrections in field theoretical approximation. In particular we discuss coherent scalar fields and curvature squared terms in the gravitational Lagrangian. The conformal equivalence of the field equations of fourth order to general relativity with a scalar field as source is an example of the geometrization of a matter field. The aemiclassical quantum eorrections of the scalar fields can avoid the initial cosmological singularity and they lead to an inflationary evolution stage as transient attrator. The review provides new points of view on questions like the probability of the inflationary stage and the question of mechanisms for multiple inflation.     

The reality and dimension of space and the complexity of quantum mechanics

The dimension (and signature) of space is a result of distances being real numbers and quantum mechanical state functions being complex ones; it is an inescapable consequence of quantum mechanics and group theory. So nonrelativistic quantum mechanics cannot be complete (it requiresad hoc additional assumptions) and consistent (nor can classical physics), leading to relativity, quantum mechanics, and field theory. Implications of the constraints of consistency and physical reasonableness and of group theory for the structure of these theories are considered. It appears that there are simple, perhaps unavoidable reasons for the laws of physics, the nature of the world they describe, and the space in which they act.     

Essay: Cosmic Censorship: The Role of Quantum Gravity

The cosmic censorship hypothesis introduced by Penrose thirty years ago is still one of the most important open questions in classical general relativity. In this essay we put forward the idea that cosmic censorhip is intrinsically a quantum gravity phenomena. To that end, we construct a gedanken experiment in which cosmic censorship is violated within the purely classical framework of general relativity. We prove, however, that quantum effects restore the validity of the conjecture. This suggests that classical general relativity is inconsistent and that cosmic censorship might be enforced only by a quantum theory of gravity.     

Reentrant violation of special relativity in the low-energy corner

In the effective relativistic quantum field theories, the energy region in which special relativity holds can be sandwiched from both the high-and low-energy sides by domains where special relativity is violated. An example is provided by ³He-A, where the relativistic quantum field theory emerges as the effective theory. The reentrant violation of special relativity in the ultralow-energy corner is accompanied by the redistribution of the momentum-space topological charges among the fermionic flavors. At this ultralow energy, an exotic massless fermion with topological charge N ₃=2 arises whose energy spectrum mixes classical and relativistic behaviors. This effect can lead to neutrino oscillations, if neutrino flavors are still massless on this energy scale.     

On the inertial mass concept in special and general relativity

Inertial mass in relativity theory is discussed from a conceptual view. It is shown that though relativistic dynamics implies a particular dependence of the momentum of a free particle on its velocityin special relativity, which diverges as v approaches c, the inertial mass itself of a moving body remains constant, from any frame of observation. However, extension to general relativity does conceptually introduce variability of the inertial mass of a body, through a necessarily generally covariant field theory of inertia, when the Mach principle is incorporated into the theory of general relativity, as a theory of matter.     

Bianchi type-V string cosmological models in general relativity

Bianchi type-V string cosmological models in general relativity are investigated. To get the exact solution of Einstein’s field equations, we have taken some scale transformations used by Camci et al [Astrophys. Space Sci. 275, 391 (2001)]. It is shown that Einstein’s field equations are solvable for any arbitrary cosmic scale function. Solutions for particular forms of cosmic scale functions are also obtained. Some physical and geometrical aspects of the models are discussed.     

The End Results of General Relativity Theory Via Just Energy Conservation and Quantum Mechanics

Herein we present a whole new approach that leads to the end results of the general theory of relativity via just the law of conservation of energy (broadened to embody the mass and energy equivalence of the special theory of relativity) and quantum mechanics. We start with the following postulate. Postulate: The rest mass of an object bound to a celestial body amounts less than its rest mass measured in empty space, and this, as much as its binding energy vis-á-vis the gravitational field of concern.     

Magnetized Domain Walls Cosmological Model in General Relativity

A non-static Bianchi type-III domain walls cosmological models in presence and absence of magnetic field are investigated in general theory of relativity. We assume that F ₁₂ is only the non-vanishing component of F _ij . To obtain deterministic model, we assume relations B=C ⁿ and ρ=p. Some physical properties of these models are discussed.     

Derivation of the Evans Wave Equation from the Lagrangian and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Action</Emphasis>: Origin of the Planck Constant in General Relativity

No Heading The Evans wave equation is derived from the appropriate Lagrangian and action, identifying the origin of the Planck constant in general relativity. The classical Fermat principle of least time, and the classical Hamilton principle of least action, are expressed in terms of a tetrad multiplied by a phase factor exp(iS/), where S is the action in general relativity. Wave (or quantum) mechanics emerges from these classical principles of general relativity for all matter and radiation fields, giving a unified theory of quantum mechanics based on differential geometry and general relativity. The phase factor exp(iS/) is an eigenfunction of the Evans wave equation and is the origin in general relativity and geometry of topological phase effects in physics, including the Aharonov-Bohm class of effects, the Berry phase, the Sagnac effect, related interferometric effects, and all physical optical effects through the Evans spin field B⁽³⁾ and the Stokes theorem in differential geometry. The Planck constant is thus identified as the least amount possible of action or angular momentum or spin in the universe. This is also the origin of the fundamental Evans spin field B⁽³⁾, which is always observed in any physical optical effect. It originates in torsion, spin and the second (or spin) Casimir invariant of the Einstein group. Mass originates in the first Casimir invariant of the Einstein group. These two invariants define any particle.