arXiv subjects

Alejandro Corichi

Publications and source records attributed to Alejandro Corichi.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

When is S=A/4?

Black hole entropy and its relation to the horizon area are considered. More precisely, the conditions and specifications that are expected to be required for the assignment of entropy, and the consequences that these expectations have when applied to a black hole are explored. In particular, the following questions are addressed: When do we expect to assign an entropy?; when are entropy and area proportional? and, what is the nature of the horizon? It is concluded that our present understanding of black hole entropy is somewhat incomplete, and some of the relevant issues that should be addressed in pursuing these questions are pointed out.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

On Unitary Time Evolution in Gowdy $T^3$ Cosmologies

A non-perturbative canonical quantization of Gowdy $T^3$ polarized models carried out recently is considered. This approach profits from the equivalence between the symmetry reduced model and 2+1 gravity coupled to a massless real scalar field. The system is partially gauge fixed and a choice of internal time is performed, for which the true degrees of freedom of the model reduce to a massless free scalar field propagating on a 2-dimensional expanding torus. It is shown that the symplectic transformation that determines the classical dynamics cannot be unitarily implemented on the corresponding Hilbert space of quantum states. The implications of this result for both quantization of fields on curved manifolds and physically relevant questions regarding the initial singularity are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Quantum Geometry as a Relational Construct

The problem of constructing a quantum theory of gravity is considered from a novel viewpoint. It is argued that any consistent theory of gravity should incorporate a relational character between the matter constituents of the theory. In particular, the traditional approach of quantizing a space-time metric is criticized and two possible avenues for constructing a satisfactory theory are put forward.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

A Mass Formula for EYM Solitons

The Isolated Horizon formalism, together with a simple phenomenological model for colored black holes was recently used to predict a formula for the ADM mass of the solitons of the EYM system in terms of horizon properties of black holes {\it for all} values of the horizon area. In this note, this formula is tested numerically --up to a large value of the area-- for spherically symmetric solutions and shown to yield the known masses of the solitons

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Hairy Black Holes, Horizon Mass and Solitons

Properties of the horizon mass of hairy black holes are discussed with emphasis on certain subtle and initially unexpected features. A key property suggests that hairy black holes may be regarded as `bound states' of ordinary black holes without hair and colored solitons. This model is then used to predict the qualitative behavior of the horizon properties of hairy black holes, to provide a physical `explanation' of their instability and to put qualitative constraints on the end point configurations that result from this instability. The available numerical calculations support these predictions. Furthermore, the physical arguments are robust and should be applicable also in more complicated situations where detailed numerical work is yet to be carried out.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Hair from the Isolated Horizon Perspective

The recently introduced Isolated Horizons (IH) formalism has become a powerful tool for realistic black hole physics. In particular, it generalizes the zeroth and first laws of black hole mechanics in terms of quasi-local quantities and serves as a starting point for quantum entropy calculations. In this note we consider theories which admit hair, and analyze some new results that the IH provides, when considering solitons and stationary solutions. Furthermore, the IH formalism allows to state uniqueness conjectures (i.e. horizon `no-hair conjectures') for the existence of solutions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Mass of Colored Black Holes

New results pertaining to colored static black hole solutions to the Einstein-Yang-Mills equations are obtained. The isolated horizons framework is used to define the concept of Hamiltonian Horizon Mass of the black hole. An unexpected relation between the ADM and Horizon masses of the black hole solution with the ADM mass of the corresponding Bartnik-McKinnon soliton is found. These results can be generalized to other non-linear theories and they suggest a general testing bed for the instability of the corresponding hairy black holes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Einstein-Yang-Mills Isolated Horizons: Phase Space, Mechanics, Hair and Conjectures

The concept of "Isolated Horizon" has been recently used to provide a full Hamiltonian treatment of black holes. It has been applied successfully to the cases of {\it non-rotating}, {\it non-distorted} black holes in Einstein Vacuum, Einstein-Maxwell and Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton Theories. In this note, it is investigated the extent to which the framework can be generalized to the case of non-Abelian gauge theories where `hairy black holes' are known to exist. It is found that this extension is indeed possible, despite the fact that in general, there is no `canonical normalization' yielding a preferred Horizon Mass. In particular the zeroth and first laws are established for all normalizations. Colored static spherically symmetric black hole solutions to the Einstein-Yang-Mills equations are considered from this perspective. A canonical formula for the Horizon Mass of such black holes is found. This analysis is used to obtain nontrivial relations between the masses of the colored black holes and the regular solitonic solutions in Einstein-Yang-Mills theory. A general testing bed for the instability of hairy black holes in general non-linear theories is suggested. As an example, the embedded Abelian magnetic solutions are considered. It is shown that, within this framework, the total energy is also positive and thus, the solutions are potentially unstable. Finally, it is discussed which elements would be needed to place the Isolated Horizons framework for Einstein-Yang-Mills theory in the same footing as the previously analyzed cases. Motivated by these considerations and using the fact that the Isolated Horizons framework seems to be the appropriate language to state uniqueness and completeness conjectures for the EYM equations --in terms of the horizon charges--, two such conjectures are put forward.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Laws Governing Isolated Horizons: Inclusion of Dilaton Couplings

Mechanics of non-rotating black holes was recently generalized by replacing the static event horizons used in standard treatments with `isolated horizons.' This framework is extended to incorporate dilaton couplings. Since there can be gravitational and matter radiation outside isolated horizons, now the fundamental parameters of the horizon, used in mechanics, must be defined using only the local structure of the horizon, without reference to infinity. This task is accomplished and the zeroth and first laws are established. To complement the previous work, the entire discussion is formulated tensorially, without any reference to spinors.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

On a spacetime duality in 2+1 gravity

We consider 2+1 dimensional gravity with a cosmological constant, and explore a duality that exists between space-times that have the De Sitter group SO(3,1) as its local isometry group. In particular, the Lorentzian theory with a positive cosmological constant is dual to the Euclidean theory with a negative cosmological constant. We use this duality to construct a mapping between apparently unrelated space-times. More precisely, we exhibit a relation between the Euclidean BTZ family and some $T^2$-cosmological solutions, and between De-Sitter point particle space-times and the analytic continuations of Anti-De Sitter point particles. We discuss some possible applications for BH and AdS thermodynamics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Quantum Theory of Geometry III: Non-commutativity of Riemannian Structures

The basic framework for a systematic construction of a quantum theory of Riemannian geometry was introduced recently. The quantum versions of Riemannian structures --such as triad and area operators-- exhibit a non-commutativity. At first sight, this feature is surprising because it implies that the framework does not admit a triad representation. To better understand this property and to reconcile it with intuition, we analyze its origin in detail. In particular, a careful study of the underlying phase space is made and the feature is traced back to the classical theory; there is no anomaly associated with quantization. We also indicate why the uncertainties associated with this non-commutativity become negligible in the semi-classical regime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Introduction to the Fock Quantization of the Maxwell Field

In this article we give an introduction to the Fock quantization of the Maxwell field. At the classical level, we treat the theory in both the covariant and canonical phase space formalisms. The approach is general since we consider arbitrary (globally-hyperbolic) space-times. The Fock quantization is shown to be equivalent to the definition of a complex structure on the classical phase space. As examples, we consider stationary space-times as well as ordinary Minkowski space-time. The account is pedagogical in spirit and is tailored to beginning graduate students. The paper is selfcontained and is intended to fill an existing gap in the literature.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv1997

Loop Quantization of Maxwell Theory and Electric Charge Quantization

We consider the loop quantization of Maxwell theory. A quantization of this type leads to a quantum theory in which the fundamental excitations are loop-like rather than particle-like. Each such loop plays the role of a quantized Faraday's line of electric flux. We find that the quantization depends on an arbitrary choice of a parameter e that carries the dimension of electric charge. For each value of e an electric charge that can be contained inside a bounded spatial region is automatically quantized in units of hbar/4*pi*e. The requirement of consistency with the quantization of electric charge observed in our Universe fixes a value of the, so far arbitrary, parameter e of the theory. Finally, we compare the ambiguity in the choice of parameter e with the beta-ambiguity that, as pointed by Immirzi, arises in the loop quantization of general relativity, and comment on a possible way this ambiguity can be fixed.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Bibliography of publications related to Classical and Quantum Gravity in terms of Connection and Loop Variables

This bibliography attempts to give a comprehensive overview of all the literature related to the Ashtekar connection and the Rovelli-Smolin loop variables. The original version was compiled by Peter Hübner in 1989, and it has been subsequently updated by Gabriela Gonzalez, Bernd Brügmann, Monica Pierri, Troy Schilling, Alejandro Corichi and Christopher Beetle. Information about additional literature, new preprints, and especially corrections are always welcome.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1997

Gauss Linking Number and Electro-magnetic Uncertainty Principle

It is shown that there is a precise sense in which the Heisenberg uncertainty between fluxes of electric and magnetic fields through finite surfaces is given by (one-half $\hbar$ times) the Gauss linking number of the loops that bound these surfaces. To regularize the relevant operators, one is naturally led to assign a framing to each loop. The uncertainty between the fluxes of electric and magnetic fields through a single surface is then given by the self-linking number of the framed loop which bounds the surface.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

On diffeomorphism invariance for lattice theories

We consider the role of the diffeomorphism constraint in the quantization of lattice formulations of diffeomorphism invariant theories of connections. It has been argued that in working with abstract lattices, one automatically takes care of the diffeomorphism constraint in the quantum theory. We use two systems in order to show that imposing the diffeomorphism constraint is imperative to obtain a physically acceptable quantum theory. First, we consider $2+1$ gravity where an exact lattice formulation is available. Next, general theories of connections for compact gauge groups are treated, where the quantum theories are known --for both the continuum and the lattice-- and can be compared.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1996

Photon inner product and the Gauss linking number

It is shown that there is an interesting interplay between self-duality, loop representation and knots invariants in the quantum theory of Maxwell fields in Minkowski space-time. Specifically, in the loop representation based on self-dual connections, the measure that dictates the inner product can be expressed as the Gauss linking number of thickened loops.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1995

Quantization of Nonstandard Hamiltonian Systems

The quantization of classical theories that admit more than one Hamiltonian description is considered. This is done from a geometrical viewpoint, both at the quantization level (geometric quantization) and at the level of the dynamics of the quantum theory. A spin-1/2 system is taken as an example in which all the steps can be completed. It is shown that the geometry of the quantum theory imposes restrictions on the physically allowed nonstandard quantum theories.

gr-qc↗