arXiv subjects

M. C. Ashworth

Publications and source records attributed to M. C. Ashworth.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv1998

Dynamic black-hole entropy

We consider two non-statistical definitions of entropy for dynamic (non-stationary) black holes in spherical symmetry. The first is analogous to the original Clausius definition of thermodynamic entropy: there is a first law containing an energy-supply term which equals surface gravity times a total differential. The second is Wald's Noether-charge method, adapted to dynamic black holes by using the Kodama flow. Both definitions give the same answer for Einstein gravity: one-quarter the area of the trapping horizon.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1997

Coherent State Approach to Quantum Clocks

The ``problem of time'' has been a pressing issue in quantum gravity for some time. To help understand this problem, Rovelli proposed a model of a two harmonic oscillators system where one of the oscillators can be thought of as a ``clock'' for the other oscillator thus giving a natural time reference frame for the system. Recently, the author has constructed an explicit form for the coherent states on the reduced phase space of this system in terms of Klauder's projection operator approach. In this paper, by using coherent state representations and other tools from coherent state quantization, I investigate the construction of gauge invariant operators on this reduced phase space, and the ability to use a quantum oscillator as a ``clock.''

quant-ph↗

arXiv1996

Coherent State Approach to Time Reparameterization Invariant Systems

For many years coherent states have been a useful tool for understanding fundamental questions in quantum mechanics. Recently, there has been work on developing a consistent way of including constraints into the phase space path integral that naturally arises in coherent state quantization. This new approach has many advantages over other approaches, including the lack of any Gribov problems, the independence of gauge fixing, and the ability to handle second-class constraints without any ambiguous determinants. In this paper, I use this new approach to study some examples of time reparameterization invariant systems, which are of special interest in the field of quantum gravity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1996

Constrainted Coherent States

Coherent states possess a regularized path integral and gives a natural relation between classical variables and quantum operators. Recent work by Klauder and Whiting has included extended variables, that can be thought of as gauge fields, into this formalism. In this paper, I consider the next step, and look at the roll of first class constraints.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1995

Quantum Liouville Theory from a Diffeomorphism Chern-Simons Action

A Chern-Simons action written with Christoffel Symbols has a natural gauge symmetry of diffeomorphisms. This Chern-Simons action will induce a Wess-Zumio-Witten model on the boundary of the manifold. If we restrict the diffeomorphisms to chiral diffeomorphism, the Wess-Zumio-Witten model is equivalent to a quantum Liouville action.

hep-th↗