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James B. Hartle

Publications and source records attributed to James B. Hartle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Slowly Rotating Relativistic Stars: VII. Gravitational Radiation from the Quasi-Radial Modes

When a relativistic star rotates slowly and rigidly, centrifugal forces flatten it slightly, thereby catalyzing a small admixture of quadrupolar vibration into its radial modes and a damping of the resulting quasi-radial modes. The damping rate $1/τ$ of each quasi-radial mode divided by its frequency $σ^{(0)}$ is given by ${(1/τ) / σ^{(0)} }= β(σ^{(0)})^3 Ω^4 R^8/M \;, $where $Ω$, $R$ and $M$ are the angular velocity, radius and mass of the star, and $β$ is a dimensionless number that depends on the mode, on relativistic corrections, and on the structure of the star, and is typically of order unity for the fundamental quasi-radial mode in the nonrelativistic limit. In this paper we develop equations and an algorithm for computing the emitted waves and the resulting damping factor $β$. The rotation is treated to second-order in the angular velocity and the pulsation amplitudes are assumed small and linearized, but no other approximations are made.

gr-qc

Simplicial Quantum Gravity

Simplicial approximation and the ideas associated with the Regge calculus.provide a concrete way of implementing a sum over histories formulation ofquantum gravity. A four-dimensional simplicial geometry is made up of flat four-simplices joined together.A sum over simplicial geometries is a sum over thedifferent ways the simplices can be joined together with an integral over their edge lengths.Theconstruction of the simplicial Euclidean action for this approach to quantum general relativity is illustrated. The recovery of the diffeomorphism group in the continuum limit is discussed. Some possible classes of simplicial complexes with which to define a sum over topologies are described.

gr-qc

Prediction in Quantum Cosmology

Lectures by the author at the 1986 Cargese summer school modestly corrected and uploaded for greater accessibility. Some of the author's views on the quantum mechanics of cosmology have changed from those presented here but may still be of historical interest. The material on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for solving the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and the work on the classical geometry limit and the approximation of quantum field theory in curved spacetime are still of interest and of use.

gr-qc

A Measure of Classicality

A striking feature of our fundamentally indeterministic quantum universe is its quasiclassical realm -- the wide range of time place and scale in which the deterministic laws of classical physics hold. Our quasiclassical realmis an emergent feature of the fundamental theories of our universe's quantum state and dynamics. There are many types of quasiclassical realms our Universe could exhibit characterized by different variables, different levels of coarse-graining, different locations in spacetime, different classical physics, and different levels of classicality.We propose a measure of classicality for quasiclassical realms, We speculate on the observable consequences of different levels of classicality especially for information gathering and utilizing systems (IGUSes) such ourselves as observers of the Universe.

gr-qc

Classical Physics and Hamiltonian Quantum Mechanics as Relics of the Big Bang

In a fundamental formulation of the quantum mechanics of a closed system such as the universe as a whole, three forms of information are needed to make predictions for the probabilities of alternative time histories of the closed system . These are the action functional of the elementary particles, the quantum istate of the universe, and the description of our specific history. We discuss the origin of the "quasiclassical realm" of familiar experience and Hamiltonian quantum mechanics with its preferred time in such a formulation of quantum cosmology. It is argued that these features of the universe are not general properties of quantum theory, but rather approximate features that are emergent after the Planck time as a consequence of theories of the closed system's quantum state and dynamics.

gr-qc

Quantum Buzzwords

Many scientists seeking to understand the quantum mechanics of measurement situations (Copenhagen quantum theory) agree on its overwhelmingly successful algorithms to predict the outcomes of laboratory measurements but disagree on what these algorithms mean and how they are to be interpreted. Some of these problems are briefly described and resolutions suggested from the decoherent (or consistent) histories quantum mechanics of closed systems like the Universe.

quant-ph

The State of the Universe

What is the quantum state of the universe? That is the central question of quantum cosmology. This essay describes the place of that quantum state in a final theory governing the regularities exhibited universally by all physical systems in the universe. It is possible that this final theory consists of two parts: (1) a dynamical theory such as superstring theory, and (2) a state of the universe such as Hawking's no-boundary wave function. Both are necessary because prediction in quantum mechanics requires both a Hamiltonian and a state. Complete ignorance of the state leads to predictions inconsistent with observation. The simplicity observed in the early universe gives hope that there is a simple, discoverable quantum state of the universe. It may be that, like the dynamical theory, the predictions of the quantum state for late time, low energy observations can be summarized by an effective cosmological theory. That should not obscure the need to provide a fundamental basis for such an effective theory which gives a a unified explanation of its features and is applicable without restrictive assumptions. It could be that there is one principle that determines both the dynamical theory and the quantum state. That would be a truly unified final theory. (talk given The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology: Stephen Hawking 60th Birthday Symposium)

gr-qc

Murray Gell-Mann, A Short Appreciation

On September 25, 2014 Murray Gell-Mann was presented with the Helmholz Medal of the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in a ceremony at the Santa Fe Institute. The author, among others, was asked to speak for fifteen minutes on Murray and his accomplishments. The following is an edited transcription of the author's speaking text.

physics.hist-ph

Working with Stephen

The banquet for the July 2017 conference in Cambridge, UK celebrating Stephen Hawking's 75th birthday was held in Trinity College on July 3rd. The organizers asked the author, among others, to give a 10 minute after dinner talk on what it was like to work with Stephen. The following is an edited version of the author's speaking text.

physics.hist-ph

The Conformal Rotation in Linearised Gravity

We consider the quantum mechanics of Einstein gravity linearised about flat spacetime. The two transverse-traceless components of the metric perturbation are the true physical degrees of freedom. They appear in the quantum theory as free quantum fields. Like the full Einstein action, the Euclidean action for linearised gravity is unbounded below. It is therefore not possible to use that action to represent the ground state wave function as a Euclidian functional integral over exp{[-(action) /\hbar]}. However, it is possible to represent the ground state as a Euclidian integral over the (deparametrised) action involving only the true physical degrees of freedom. Starting from this integral representation of the ground state and using the techniques of Faddeev and Popov we show how to construct a Euclidean functional integral for the ground state wave function. The integral explicitly exhibits the theory's gauge symmetry, locality, and O(4) invariance. The conformal factor appears naturally rotated into the complex plane. Other representations of the ground state are exhibited.

gr-qc

Arrows of Time and Initial and Final Conditions in the Quantum Mechanics of Closed Systems Like the Universe

A model quantum cosmology is used to illustrate how arrows of time emerge in a universe governed by a time-neutral dynamical theory constrained by time asymmetric initial and final boundary conditions represented by initial and final density matrices. In a quantum universe universe arrows of time are described by the probabilities of appropriately coarse grained sets of histories of quantities like entropy that grow or decay. We show that the requirement of that these sets of histories decohere implies two things: (1) A time asymmetry between initial and final conditions that is a basis for arrows ot time. (2) How a final state of indifference that is represented by a final density matrix proportional to the unit density matrix is consistent with causality, and allows a finer-grained description of the model universe in terms of decoherent histories than any other final state.

gr-qc

Stephen William Hawking: A Biographical Memoir

Stephen Hawking's contributions to the understanding of gravity, black holes and cosmology were truly immense. They began with the singularity theorems in the 1960s followed by his discovery that black holes have an entropy and consequently a finite temperature. Black holes were predicted to emit thermal radiation, what is now called Hawking radiation. He pioneered the study of primordial black holes and their potential role in cosmology. His organisation of and contributions to the Nuffield Workshop in 1982 consolidated the picture that the large-scale structure of the universe originated as quantum fluctuations during the inflationary era. Work on the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity resulted in his formulation of the concept of the wavefunction of the universe. The tension between quantum mechanics and general relativity led to his struggles with the information paradox concerning deep connections between these fundamental areas of physics. These achievements were all accomplished following the diagnosis during the early years of Stephen's studies as a post-graduate student in Cambridge that he had incurable motor neuron disease -- he was given two years to live. Against all the odds, he lived a further 55 years. The distinction of his work led to many honours and he became a major public figure, promoting with passion the needs of disabled people. His popular best-selling book A Brief History of Time made cosmology and his own work known to the general public worldwide. He became an icon for science and an inspiration to all.

physics.hist-ph

How Nature is Conformable to Herself: A View from Quantum Cosmology

In his essay "Nature Conformable to Herself" the late Murray Gell-Mann expands on an observation of Newton that theories of seemingly disparate phenomena in the universe often make use of similar ideas and similar mathematical structure. Newton summarized that by saying that nature was very consonant and conformable to herself. This essay uses a model of quantum cosmology to illustrate how, why, and when nature is conformable to herself.

gr-qc

The Impact of Cosmology on Quantum Mechanics

When quantum mechanics was developed in the '20s of the last century another revolution in physics was just starting. It began with the discovery that the universe is expanding. For a long time quantum mechanics and cosmology developed independently of one another. Yet the very discovery of the expansion would eventually draw the two subjects together because it implied the big bang where quantum mechanics wasimportant for cosmology and for understanding and predicting our observations of the universe today. Textbook (Copenhagen) formulations of quantum mechanics are inadequate for cosmology for at least four reasons: 1) They predict the outcomes of measurements made by observers. But in the very early universe no measurements were being made and no observers were around to make them. 2) Observers were outside of the system being measured. But we are interested in a theory of the whole universe where everything, including observers, are inside. 3) Copenhagen quantum mechanics could not retrodict the past. But retrodicting the past to understand how the universe began is the main task of cosmology. 4) Copenhagen quantum mechanics required a fixed classical spacetime geometry not least to give meaning to the time in the Schrödinger equation. But in the very early universe spacetime is fluctuating quantum mechanically (quantum gravity) and without definite value. A formulation of quantum mechanics general enough for cosmology was started by Everett and developed by many. That effort has given us a more general framework that is adequate for cosmology --- decoherent (or consistent) histories quantum theory in the context of semiclassical quantum gravity. Copenhagen quantum theory is an approximation to this more general quantum framework that is appropriate for measurement situations. We discuss whether further generalization may still be required.

gr-qc

Essays

A collection of short expository essays by the author on various topics in quantum mechanics, quantum cosmology, and physics in general.

physics.pop-ph

What is the No-Boundary Wave Function of the Universe?

We specify the semiclassical no-boundary wave function of the universe without relying on a functional integral of any kind. The wave function is given as a sum of specific saddle points of the dynamical theory that satisfy conditions of regularity on geometry and field and which together yield a time neutral state that is normalizable in an appropriate inner product. This specifies a predictive framework of semiclassical quantum cosmology that is adequate to make probabilistic predictions, which are in agreement with observations in simple models. The use of holography to go beyond the semiclassical approximation is briefly discussed.

hep-th

Damped perturbations in the no-boundary state

We evaluate the no-boundary path integral exactly in a Bianchi IX minisuperspace with two scale factors. In this model the no-boundary proposal can be implemented by requiring one scale factor to be zero initially together with a judiciously chosen regularity condition on the momentum conjugate to the second scale factor. Taking into account the non-linear backreaction of the perturbations we recover the predictions of the original semiclassical no-boundary proposal. In particular we find that large perturbations are strongly damped, consistent with vacuum state wave functions.

gr-qc

The Spacetime Approach to Quantum Mechanics

Feynman's sum-over-histories formulation of quantum mechanics is reviewed as an independent statement of quantum theory in spacetime form. It is different from the usual Schrödinger-Heisenberg formulation that utilizes states on spacelike surfaces because it assigns probabilities to different sets of alternatives. Sum-over-histories quantum mechanics can be generalized to deal with spacetime alternatives that are not "at definite moments of time". An example in field theory is the set of alternative ranges of values of a field averaged over a spacetime region. An example in particle mechanics is the set of the alternatives defined by whether a particle never crosses a fixed spacetime region or crosses it at least once. The general notion of a set of spacetime alternatives is a partition (coarse-graining) of the histories into an exhaustive set of exclusive classes. With this generalization the sum-over-histories formulation can be said to be in fully spacetime form with dynamics represented by path integrals over spacetime histories and alternatives defined as spacetime partitions of these histories. When restricted to alternatives at definite moments of times this generalization is equivalent to Schrödinger-Heisenberg quantum mechanics. However, the quantum mechanics of more general spacetime alternatives does not have an equivalent Schrödinger-Heisenberg formulation. We suggest that, in the quantum theory of gravity, the general notion of "observable" is supplied by diffeomorphism invariant partitions of spacetime metrics and matter field configurations. By generalizing the usual alternatives so as to put quantum theory in fully spacetime form we may be led to a covariant generalized quantum mechanics of spacetime free from the problem of time.

gr-qc