arXiv subjects

Fotini Markopoulou

Publications and source records attributed to Fotini Markopoulou.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Towards Gravity from the Quantum

We review quantum causal histories starting with their interpretations as a quantum field theory on a causal set and a quantum geometry. We discuss the difficulties that background independent theories based on quantum geometry encounter in deriving general relativity as the low energy limit. We then suggest that general relativity should be viewed as a strictly effective theory coming from a fundamental theory with no geometric degrees of freedom. The basic idea is that an effective theory is characterized by effective coherent degrees of freedom and their interactions. Having formulated the pre-geometric background independent theory as a quantum information theoretic processor, we are able to use the method of noiseless subsystems to extract such coherent (protected) excitations. We follow the consequences, in particular, the implications of effective locality and time.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Constrained Mechanics and Noiseless Subsystems

Many theories are formulated as constrained systems. We provide a mechanism that explains the origin of physical states of a constrained system by a process of selection of noiseless subsystems when the system is coupled to an external environment. Effectively, physical states that solve all the constraints are selected by a passive error correction scheme which has been developed in the context of quantum information processing. We apply this mechanism to several constrained theories including the relativistic particle, electromagnetism, and quantum gravity, and discuss some interesting (and speculative) implications on the problem of time and the status of symmetries in nature.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Geometry from quantum particles

We investigate the possibility that a background independent quantum theory of gravity is not a theory of quantum geometry. We provide a way for global spacetime symmetries to emerge from a background independent theory without geometry. In this, we use a quantum information theoretic formulation of quantum gravity and the method of noiseless subsystems in quantum error correction. This is also a method that can extract particles from a quantum geometric theory such as a spin foam model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Symmetry and entropy of black hole horizons

We argue, using methods taken from the theory of noiseless subsystems in quantum information theory, that the quantum states associated with a Schwarzchild black hole live in the restricted subspace of the Hilbert space of horizon boundary states in which all punctures are equal. Consequently, one value of the Immirzi parameter matches both the Hawking value for the entropy and the quasi normal mode spectrum of the Schwarzchild black hole. The method of noiseless subsystems thus allows us to understand, in this example and more generally, how symmetries, which take physical states to physical states, can emerge from a diffeomorphism invariant formulation of quantum gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Gauge fixing in Causal Dynamical Triangulations

We relax the definition of the Ambjorn-Loll causal dynamical triangulation model in 1+1 dimensions to allow for a varying lapse. We show that, as long as the spatially averaged lapse is constant in time, the physical observables are unchanged in the continuum limit. This supports the claim that the time slicing of the model is the result of a gauge fixing, rather than a physical preferred time slicing.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Quantum Theory from Quantum Gravity

We provide a mechanism by which, from a background independent model with no quantum mechanics, quantum theory arises in the same limit in which spatial properties appear. Starting with an arbitrary abstract graph as the microscopic model of spacetime, our ansatz is that the microscopic dynamics can be chosen so that 1) the model has a low low energy limit which reproduces the non-relativistic classical dynamics of a system of N particles in flat spacetime, 2) there is a minimum length, and 3) some of the particles are in a thermal bath or otherwise evolve stochastically. We then construct simple functions of the degrees of freedom of the theory and show that their probability distributions evolve according to the Schroedinger equation. The non-local hidden variables required to satisfy the conditions of Bell's theorem are the links in the fundamental graph that connect nodes adjacent in the graph but distant in the approximate metric of the low energy limit. In the presence of these links, distant stochastic fluctuations are transferred into universal quantum fluctuations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Evolution in Quantum Causal Histories

We provide a precise definition and analysis of quantum causal histories (QCH). A QCH consists of a discrete, locally finite, causal pre-spacetime with matrix algebras encoding the quantum structure at each event. The evolution of quantum states and observables is described by completely positive maps between the algebras at causally related events. We show that this local description of evolution is sufficient and that unitary evolution can be recovered wherever it should actually be expected. This formalism may describe a quantum cosmology without an assumption of global hyperbolicity; it is thus more general than the Wheeler-DeWitt approach. The structure of a QCH is also closely related to quantum information theory and algebraic quantum field theory on a causal set.

hep-th↗

arXiv2002

Planck-scale models of the Universe

Suppose the usual description of spacetime as a 4-dimensional manifold with a Lorentzian metric breaks down at Planck energies. Can we still construct sensible theoretical models of the universe? Are they testable? Do they lead to a consistent quantum cosmology? Is this cosmology different than the standard one? The answer is yes, to all these questions, assuming that quantum theory is still valid at this scale. I describe the basic features of such models, mainly quantum causal histories and spin foams. They are given by a partition function, similar to spin systems and lattice gauge theories. This suggests that we should treat this approach to quantum gravity as a problem in statistical physics, but with significant complications: there is no background and, in particular, no external time. Gravity and the familiar 3+1 manifold spacetime are to be derived as the low-energy continuum approximation to these models.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Coarse graining in spin foam models

We formulate the problem of finding the low-energy limit of spin foam models as a coarse-graining problem in the sense of statistical physics. This suggests that renormalization group methods may be used to find that limit. However, since spin foams are models of spacetime at Planck scale, novel issues arise: these microscopic models are sums over irregular, background-independent lattices. We show that all of these issues can be addressed by the recent application of the Kreimer Hopf algebra for quantum field theory renormalization to non-perturbative statistical physics. The main difference from standard renormalization group is that the Hopf algebra executes block transformations in parts of the lattice only but in a controlled manner so that the end result is a fully block-transformed lattice.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

An algebraic approach to coarse graining

We propose that Kreimer's method of Feynman diagram renormalization via a Hopf algebra of rooted trees can be fruitfully employed in the analysis of block spin renormalization or coarse graining of inhomogeneous statistical systems. Examples of such systems include spin foam formulations of non-perturbative quantum gravity as well as lattice gauge and spin systems on irregular lattices and/or with spatially varying couplings. We study three examples which are Z_2 lattice gauge theory on irregular 2-dimensional lattices, Ising/Potts models with varying bond strengths and (1+1)-dimensional spin foam models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

Quantum causal histories

Quantum causal histories are defined to be causal sets with Hilbert spaces attached to each event and local unitary evolution operators. The reflexivity, antisymmetry, and transitivity properties of a causal set are preserved in the quantum history as conditions on the evolution operators. A quantum causal history in which transitivity holds can be treated as ``directed'' topological quantum field theory. Two examples of such histories are described.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

An insider's guide to quantum causal histories

A review is given of recent work aimed at constructing a quantum theory of cosmology in which all observables refer to information measurable by observers inside the universe. At the classical level the algebra of observables should be modified to take into account the fact that observers can only give truth values to observables that have to do with their backwards light cone. The resulting algebra is a Heyting rather than a Boolean algebra. The complement is non-trivial and contains information about horizons and topology change. Representation of such observables quantum mechanically requires a many-Hilbert space formalism, in which different observers make measurements in different Hilbert spaces. I describe such a formalism, called "quantum causal histories"; examples include causally evolving spin networks and quantum computers.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

The internal description of a causal set: What the universe looks like from the inside

We describe an algebraic way to code the causal information of a discrete spacetime. The causal set C is transformed to a description in terms of the causal pasts of the events in C. This is done by an evolving set, a functor which to each event of C assigns its causal past. Evolving sets obey a Heyting algebra which is characterised by a non-standard notion of complement. Conclusions about the causal structure of the causal set can be drawn by calculating the complement of the evolving set. A causal quantum theory can be based on the quantum version of evolving sets, which we briefly discuss.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Holography in a quantum spacetime

We propose a formulation of the holographic principle, suitable for a background independent quantum theory of cosmology. It is stated as a relationship between the flow of quantum information and the causal structure of a quantum spacetime. Screens are defined as sets of events at which the observables of a holographic cosmological theory may be measured, and such that information may flow across them in two directions. A discrete background independent holographic theory may be formulated in terms of information flowing in a causal network of such screens. Geometry is introduced by defining the area of a screen to be a measure of its capacity as a channel of quantum information from its null past to its null future. We call this a ``weak'' form of the holographic principle, as no use is made of a bulk theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Nonperturbative dynamics for abstract (p,q) string networks

We describe abstract (p,q) string networks which are the string networks of Sen without the information about their embedding in a background spacetime. The non-perturbative dynamical formulation invented for spin networks, in terms of causal evolution of dual triangulations, is applied to them. The formal transition amplitudes are sums over discrete causal histories that evolve (p,q) string networks. The dynamics depend on two free SL(2,Z) invariant functions which describe the amplitudes for the local evolution moves.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Quantum geometry with intrinsic local causality

The space of states and operators for a large class of background independent theories of quantum spacetime dynamics is defined. The SU(2) spin networks of quantum general relativity are replaced by labelled compact two-dimensional surfaces. The space of states of the theory is the direct sum of the spaces of invariant tensors of a quantum group G_q over all compact (finite genus) oriented 2-surfaces. The dynamics is background independent and locally causal. The dynamics constructs histories with discrete features of spacetime geometry such as causal structure and multifingered time. For SU(2) the theory satisfies the Bekenstein bound and the holographic hypothesis is recast in this formalism.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1997

Dual formulation of spin network evolution

We illustrate the relationship between spin networks and their dual representation by labelled triangulations of space in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions. We apply this to the recent proposal for causal evolution of spin networks. The result is labelled spatial triangulations evolving with transition amplitudes given by labelled spacetime simplices. The formalism is very similar to simplicial gravity, however, the triangulations represent combinatorics and not an approximation to the spatial manifold. The distinction between future and past nodes which can be ordered in causal sets also exists here. Spacelike and timelike slices can be defined and the foliation is allowed to vary. We clarify the choice of the two rules in the causal spin network evolution, and the assumption of trivalent spin networks for 2+1 spacetime dimensions and four-valent for 3+1. As a direct application, the problem of the exponential growth of the causal model is remedied. The result is a clear and more rigid graphical understanding of evolution of combinatorial spin networks, on which further work can be based.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1997

4D diffeomorphisms in canonical gravity and abelian deformations

A careful study of the induced transformations on spatial quantities due to 4-dimensional spacetime diffeomorphisms in the canonical formulation of general relativity is undertaken. Use of a general formalism, which indicates the role of the embedding variables in a transparent manner, allows us to analyse the effect of 4-dimensional diffeomorphisms more generally than is possible in the standard ADM approach. This analysis clearly indicates the assumptions which are necessary in order to obtain the ADM-Dirac constraints, and furthermore shows that there are choices, other than the ADM hamiltonian constraint, that one can make for the deformations in the ``timelike'' direction. In particular an abelian generator closely related to true time evolution appears very naturally in this framework. This generator, its relation to other abelian scalars discovered recently, and the possibilities it provides for a group theoretic quantisation of gravity are discussed.

gr-qc↗