arXiv subjects

Jerzy Lewandowski

Publications and source records attributed to Jerzy Lewandowski.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Background independent quantizations: the scalar field I

We are concerned with the issue of quantization of a scalar field in a diffeomorphism invariant manner. We apply the method used in Loop Quantum Gravity. It relies on the specific choice of scalar field variables referred to as the polymer variables. The quantization, in our formulation, amounts to introducing the `quantum' polymer *-star algebra and looking for positive linear functionals, called states. The assumed in our paper homeomorphism invariance allows to determine a complete class of the states. Except one, all of them are new. In this letter we outline the main steps and conclusions, and present the results: the GNS representations, characterization of those states which lead to essentially self adjoint momentum operators (unbounded), identification of the equivalence classes of the representations as well as of the irreducible ones. The algebra and topology of the problem, the derivation, all the technical details and more are contained in the paper-part II.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Automorphism covariant representations of the holonomy-flux *-algebra

We continue an analysis of representations of cylindrical functions and fluxes which are commonly used as elementary variables of Loop Quantum Gravity. We consider an arbitrary principal bundle of a compact connected structure group and following Sahlmann's ideas define a holonomy-flux *-algebra whose elements correspond to the elementary variables. There exists a natural action of automorphisms of the bundle on the algebra; the action generalizes the action of analytic diffeomorphisms and gauge transformations on the algebra considered in earlier works. We define the automorphism covariance of a *-representation of the algebra on a Hilbert space and prove that the only Hilbert space admitting such a representation is a direct sum of spaces L^2 given by a unique measure on the space of generalized connections. This result is a generalization of our previous work (Class. Quantum. Grav. 20 (2003) 3543-3567, gr-qc/0302059) where we assumed that the principal bundle is trivial, and its base manifold is R^d.

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arXiv2004

Quasi-local rotating black holes in higher dimension: geometry

With a help of a generalized Raychaudhuri equation non-expanding null surfaces are studied in arbitrarily dimensional case. The definition and basic properties of non-expanding and isolated horizons known in the literature in the 4 and 3 dimensional cases are generalized. A local description of horizon's geometry is provided. The Zeroth Law of black hole thermodynamics is derived. The constraints have a similar structure to that of the 4 dimensional spacetime case. The geometry of a vacuum isolated horizon is determined by the induced metric and the rotation 1-form potential, local generalizations of the area and the angular momentum typically used in the stationary black hole solutions case.

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arXiv2004

Background Independent Quantum Gravity: A Status Report

The goal of this article is to present an introduction to loop quantum gravity -a background independent, non-perturbative approach to the problem of unification of general relativity and quantum physics, based on a quantum theory of geometry. Our presentation is pedagogical. Thus, in addition to providing a bird's eye view of the present status of the subject, the article should also serve as a vehicle to enter the field and explore it in detail. To aid non-experts, very little is assumed beyond elements of general relativity, gauge theories and quantum field theory. While the article is essentially self-contained, the emphasis is on communicating the underlying ideas and the significance of results rather than on presenting systematic derivations and detailed proofs. (These can be found in the listed references.) The subject can be approached in different ways. We have chosen one which is deeply rooted in well established physics and also has sufficient mathematical precision to ensure that there are no hidden infinities. In order to keep the article to a reasonable size, and to avoid overwhelming non-experts, we have had to leave out several interesting topics, results and viewpoints; this is meant to be an introduction to the subject rather than an exhaustive review of it.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Black hole entropy from Quantum Geometry

Quantum Geometry (the modern Loop Quantum Gravity using graphs and spin-networks instead of the loops) provides microscopic degrees of freedom that account for the black-hole entropy. However, the procedure for state counting used in the literature contains an error and the number of the relevant horizon states is underestimated. In our paper a correct method of counting is presented. Our results lead to a revision of the literature of the subject. It turns out that the contribution of spins greater then 1/2 to the entropy is not negligible. Hence, the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter involved in the spectra of all the geometric and physical operators in this theory is different than previously derived. Also, the conjectured relation between Quantum Geometry and the black hole quasi-normal modes should be understood again.

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arXiv2003

Mathematical structure of loop quantum cosmology

Applications of Riemannian quantum geometry to cosmology have had notable successes. In particular, the fundamental discreteness underlying quantum geometry has led to a natural resolution of the big bang singularity. However, the precise mathematical structure underlying loop quantum cosmology and the sense in which it implements the full quantization program in a symmetry reduced model has not been made explicit. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues, thereby providing a firmer mathematical and conceptual foundation to the subject.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Diffeomorphism covariant representations of the holonomy-flux star-algebra

Recently, Sahlmann proposed a new, algebraic point of view on the loop quantization. He brought up the issue of a star-algebra underlying that framework, studied the algebra consisting of the fluxes and holonomies and characterized its representations. We define the diffeomorphism covariance of a representation of the Sahlmann algebra and study the diffeomorphism covariant representations. We prove they are all given by Sahlmann's decomposition into the cyclic representations of the sub-algebra of the holonomies by using a single state only. The state corresponds to the natural measure defined on the space of the generalized connections. This result is a generalization of Sahlmann's result concerning the U(1) case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

The Normal Conformal Cartan Connection and the Bach Tensor

The goal of this paper is to express the Bach tensor of a four dimensional conformal geometry of an arbitrary signature by the Cartan normal conformal (CNC) connection. We show that the Bach tensor can be identified with the Yang-Mills current of the connection. It follows from that result that a conformal geometry whose CNC connection is reducible in an appropriate way has a degenerate Bach tensor. As an example we study the case of a CNC connection which admits a twisting covariantly constant twistor field. This class of conformal geometries of this property is known as given by the Fefferman metric tensors. We use our result to calculate the Bach tensor of an arbitrary Fefferman metric and show it is proportional to the tensorial square of the four-fold eigenvector of the Weyl tensor. Finally, we solve the Yang-Mills equations imposed on the CNC connection for all the homogeneous Fefferman metrics. The only solution is the Nurowski-Plebanski metric.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Spacetimes foliated by Killing horizons

It seems to be expected, that a horizon of a quasi-local type, like a Killing or an isolated horizon, by analogy with a globally defined event horizon, should be unique in some open neighborhood in the spacetime, provided the vacuum Einstein or the Einstein-Maxwell equations are satisfied. The aim of our paper is to verify whether that intuition is correct. If one can extend a so called Kundt metric, in such a way that its null, shear-free surfaces have spherical spacetime sections, the resulting spacetime is foliated by so called non-expanding horizons. The obstacle is Kundt's constraint induced at the surfaces by the Einstein or the Einstein-Maxwell equations, and the requirement that a solution be globally defined on the sphere. We derived a transformation (reflection) that creates a solution to Kundt's constraint out of data defining an extremal isolated horizon. Using that transformation, we derived a class of exact solutions to the Einstein or Einstein-Maxwell equations of very special properties. Each spacetime we construct is foliated by a family of the Killing horizons. Moreover, it admits another, transversal Killing horizon. The intrinsic and extrinsic geometry of the transversal Killing horizon coincides with the one defined on the event horizon of the extremal Kerr-Newman solution. However, the Killing horizon in our example admits yet another Killing vector tangent to and null at it. The geometries of the leaves are given by the reflection.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Extremal Isolated Horizons: A Local Uniqueness Theorem

We derive all the axi-symmetric, vacuum and electrovac extremal isolated horizons. It turns out that for every horizon in this class, the induced metric tensor, the rotation 1-form potential and the pullback of the electromagnetic field necessarily coincide with those induced by the monopolar, extremal Kerr-Newman solution on the event horizon. We also discuss the general case of a symmetric, extremal isolated horizon. In particular, we analyze the case of a two-dimensional symmetry group generated by two null vector fields. Its relevance to the classification of all the symmetric isolated horizons, including the non-extremal once, is explained.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Polymer and Fock representations for a Scalar field

In loop quantum gravity, matter fields can have support only on the `polymer-like' excitations of quantum geometry, and their algebras of observables and Hilbert spaces of states can not refer to a classical, background geometry. Therefore, to adequately handle the matter sector, one has to address two issues already at the kinematic level. First, one has to construct the appropriate background independent operator algebras and Hilbert spaces. Second, to make contact with low energy physics, one has to relate this `polymer description' of matter fields to the standard Fock description in Minkowski space. While this task has been completed for gauge fields, important gaps remained in the treatment of scalar fields. The purpose of this letter is to fill these gaps.

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arXiv2002

Geometry of Generic Isolated Horizons

Geometrical structures intrinsic to non-expanding, weakly isolated and isolated horizons are analyzed and compared with structures which arise in other contexts within general relativity, e.g., at null infinity. In particular, we address in detail the issue of singling out the preferred normals to these horizons required in various applications. This work provides powerful tools to extract invariant, physical information from numerical simulations of the near horizon, strong field geometry. While it complements the previous analysis of laws governing the mechanics of weakly isolated horizons, prior knowledge of those results is not assumed.

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arXiv2001

Geometric Characterizations of the Kerr Isolated Horizon

We formulate conditions on the geometry of a non-expanding horizon $Δ$ which are sufficient for the space-time metric to coincide on $Δ$ with the Kerr metric. We introduce an invariant which can be used as a measure of how different the geometry of a given non-expanding horizon is from the geometry of the Kerr horizon. Directly, our results concern the space-time metric at $\IH$ at the zeroth and the first orders. Combained with the results of Ashtekar, Beetle and Lewandowski, our conditions can be used to compare the space-time geometry at the non-expanding horizon with that of Kerr to every order. The results should be useful to numerical relativity in analyzing the sense in which the final black hole horizon produced by a collapse or a merger approaches the Kerr horizon.

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arXiv2001

Breakdown of the Action Method in Gauge Theories

It is shown that the definition of physical integration measures via ``exponential of minus the action times kinematical integration measure'' typically contradicts properties of physical models. In particular, theories with uncountably many non-vanishing Wilson-loop expectation values cannot be gained this way. The results are rigorous within the Ashtekar approach to gauge field theories.

math-ph↗

arXiv2001

Relation between polymer and Fock excitations

To bridge the gap between background independent, non-perturbative quantum gravity and low energy physics described by perturbative field theory in Minkowski space-time, Minkowskian Fock states are located, analyzed and used in the background independent framework. This approach to the analysis of semi-classical issues is motivated by recent results of Varadarajan. As in that work, we use the simpler U(1) example to illustrate our constructions but, in contrast to that work, formulate the theory in such a way that it can be extended to full general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Mechanics of Rotating Isolated Horizons

Black hole mechanics was recently extended by replacing the more commonly used event horizons in stationary space-times with isolated horizons in more general space-times (which may admit radiation arbitrarily close to black holes). However, so far the detailed analysis has been restricted to non-rotating black holes (although it incorporated arbitrary distortion, as well as electromagnetic, Yang-Mills and dilatonic charges). We now fill this gap by first introducing the notion of isolated horizon angular momentum and then extending the first law to the rotating case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

A 2-Surface Quantization of the Lorentzian Gravity

This is a contribution to the MG9 session QG1-a. A new quantum representation for the Lorentzian gravity is created from the Pullin vaccum by the operators assigned to 2-complexes. The representation uses the original, spinorial Ashtekar variables, the reality conditions are well posed and Thiemann's Hamiltonian is well defined. The results on the existence of a suitable Hilbert product are partial. They were derived in collaboration with Abhay Ashtekar.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Geometry of Non-expanding Horizons and Their Neighborhoods

This is a contribution to MG9 session BHT4. Certain geometrically distinguished frame on a non-expanding horizon and in its space-time neighborhood, as well as the Bondi-like coordinates are constructed. The construction provides free degrees of freedom, invariants, and the existence conditions for a Killing vector field. The reported results come from the joint works with Ashtekar and Beetle.

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