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Martin Bojowald

Publications and source records attributed to Martin Bojowald.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2024

Space-time superpositions as fluctuating geometries

Superpositions of black holes can be described geometrically using a combined canonical formulation for space-time and quantum states. A previously introduced black-hole model that includes quantum fluctuations of metric components is shown here to give full access to the corresponding space-time geometry of weak-field gravity in terms of suitable line elements with quantum corrections. These results can be interpreted as providing covariant formulations of the gravitational force implied by a distribution of black holes in superposition. They can also be understood as a distribution of quantum matter constituents in superposition for a single black hole. A detailed analysis in the weak-field limit reveals quantum corrections to Newton's potential in generic semiclassical states, as well as new bounds on quantum fluctuations, implied by the covariance condition, rather than the usual uncertainty principle. These results provide additional control on quantum effects in Newton's potential that can be used in a broad range of predictions to be compared with observations.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2024

The chaotic behavior of the Bianchi IX model under the influence of quantum effects

A quantum analysis of the vacuum Bianchi IX model is performed, focusing in particular on the chaotic nature of the system. The framework constructed here is general enough for the results to apply in the context of any theory of quantum gravity, since it includes only minimal approximations that make it possible to encode the information of all quantum degrees of freedom in the fluctuations of the usual anisotropy parameters. These fluctuations are described as canonical variables that extend the classical phase space. In this way, standard methods for dynamical systems can be applied to study the chaos of the model. Two specific methods are applied that are suitable for time-reparameterization invariant systems. First, a generalized version of the Misner-Chitre variables is constructed, which provides an isomorphism between the quantum Bianchi IX dynamics and the geodesic flow on a suitable Riemannian manifold, extending, in this way, the usual billiard picture. Secondly, the fractal dimension of the boundary between points with different outcomes in the space of initial data is numerically analyzed. While the quantum system remains chaotic, the main conclusion is that its strength is considerably diminished by quantum effects as compared to its classical counterpart.

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arXiv2024

Emergent Modified Gravity

A complete canonical formulation of general covariance makes it possible to construct new modified theories of gravity that are not of higher-curvature form, as shown here in a spherically symmetric setting. The usual uniqueness theorems are evaded by using a crucial and novel ingredient, allowing for fundamental fields of gravity distinct from an emergent space-time metric that provides a geometrical structure to all solutions. As specific examples, there are new expansion-shear couplings in cosmological models, a form of modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) can appear in a space-time covariant theory without introducing extra fields, and related effects help to make effective models of canonical quantum gravity fully consistent with general covariance.

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arXiv2024

Inequivalence of mimetic gravity with models of loop quantum gravity

Certain versions of mimetic gravity have recently been claimed to present potential covariant theories of canonically modified spherically symmetric gravity, motivated by ingredients from loop quantum gravity. If such an equivalence were to hold, it would demonstrate general covariance of a large class of models considered in loop quantum gravity. However, the relationship with mimetic gravity as presented so far is incomplete because it has been proposed only in preferred space-time slicings of uniform scalar fields. Here, several independent arguments are used to show that neither an equivalence nor a covariance claim are correct for models of loop quantum gravity. The framework of emergent modified gravity is found to present a broad setting in which such questions can be analyzed efficiently. As an additional result, the discussion sheds light on the co-existence of different and mutually inequivalent approaches to an implementation of the gravitational dynamics within loop quantum gravity.

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arXiv2023

A new type of large-scale signature change in emergent modified gravity

Emergent modified gravity presents a new class of gravitational theories in which the structure of space-time with Riemannian geometry of a certain signature is not presupposed. Relying on crucial features of a canonical formulation, the geometry of space-time is instead derived from the underlying dynamical equations for phase-space degrees of freedom together with a crucial covariance condition. Here, a large class of spherically symmetric models is solved analytically for Schwarzschild-type black-hole configurations with generic modification functions, using a variety of slicings that explicitly demonstrates general covariance. For some choices of the modification functions, a new type of signature change is found and evaluated. In contrast to previous versions discussed for instance in models of loop quantum gravity, signature change happens on timelike hypersurfaces in the exterior region of a black hole where it is not covered by a horizon. A large region between the horizon and the signature-change hypersurface may nevertheless be nearly classical, such that the presence of a signature-change boundary around Lorentzian space-time, or a Euclidean wall around the universe, is consistent with observations provided signature change happens sufficiently far from the black hole.

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arXiv2023

Emergent modified gravity coupled to scalar matter

Emergent modified gravity presents a new set of generally covariant gravitational theories in which the space-time metric is not directly given by one of the fundamental fields. A metric compatible with the modified dynamics of gravity is instead derived from covariance conditions for space-time in canonical form. This paper presents a significant extension of existing vacuum models to the case of a scalar field coupled to emergent modified gravity in a spherically symmetric setting. Unlike in previous attempts for instance in models of loop quantum gravity, it is possible to maintain general covariance in the presence of modified gravity-scalar couplings. In general, however, the emergent space-time metric depends not only on the phase-space degrees of freedom of the gravitational part of the coupled theory, but also on the scalar field. Matter therefore directly and profoundly affects the geometry of space-time, not only through the well-known dynamical coupling of stress-energy to curvature as in Einstein's equation, but even on a kinematical level before equations of motion are solved. This paper introduces further physical requirements that may be imposed for a reduction of modified theories to more specific classes, in some cases eliminating certain modifications that would be possible in a vacuum situation. With minimal coupling, results about the removal of classical black-hole singularities in vacuum emergent modified gravity are found to be unstable under the inclusion of matter, but alternative modifications exist in which singularities are removed even in the presence of matter. Emergent modified gravity is seen to provide a large class of new scalar-tensor theories with second-order field equations.

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arXiv2023

Quasiclassical solutions for static quantum black holes

A new form of quasiclassical space-time dynamics for constrained systems reveals how quantum effects can be derived systematically from canonical quantization of gravitational systems. These quasiclassical methods lead to additional fields, representing quantum fluctuations and higher moments, that are coupled to the classical metric components. The new fields describe non-adiabatic quantum dynamics and can be interpreted as implicit formulations of non-local quantum corrections in a field theory. This field-theory aspect is studied here for the first time, applied to a gravitational system for which a tractable model is constructed. Static solutions for the relevant fields can be obtained in almost closed form. They reveal new properties of potential near-horizon and asymptotic effects in canonical quantum gravity and demonstrate the overall consistency of the formalism.

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arXiv2023

MONDified Gravity

A new class of modified gravity theories, made possible by subtle features of the canonical formulation of general covariance, naturally allows MOND-like behavior (MOdified Newtonian Dynamics) in effective space-time solutions without introducing new fields. A detailed analysis reveals a relationship with various quantum-gravity features, in particular in canonical approaches, and shows several properties of potential observational relevance. A fundamental origin of MOND and a corresponding solution to the dark-matter problem are therefore possible and testable.

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arXiv2023

Adherence and violation of the equivalence principle from classical to quantum mechanics

Investigation into the applicability of the equivalence principle in quantum mechanics has taken many forms, with varying conclusions. Here, a dynamical semi-classical description of a wave packet in terms of its center of mass and higher quantum fluctuations is applied to the case of a quantum particle in gravitational free fall. The analysis provides an intuitive account of the origin of mass-dependence in quantum-gravitational dynamics through an effective potential that enforces the uncertainty principle. This potential has two implications: (i) The lowest order quantum fluctuations encoding the width and spreading of the wave packet obey an uncertainty relation whose observance is mass-dependent. (ii) In an inhomogeneous gravitational field tidal effects couple the center of mass motion to the quantum fluctuations. The combined effect results in a clear demonstration of how some conceptions of the weak equivalence principle, based on mass dependence, are violated. The size of this violation is within sensitivities of current Eotvos and clock-based return time experiments.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2023

Emergent modified gravity: Covariance regained

In its canonical formulation, general relativity is subject to gauge transformations that are equivalent to space-time coordinate changes of general covariance only when the gauge generators, given by the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraints, vanish. Since the specific form taken by Poisson brackets of the constraints and of the gauge transformations and equations of motion they generate is important for general covariance to be realized, modifications of the canonical theory, suggested for instance by approaches to quantum gravity, are not guaranteed to be compatible with the existence of a covariant space-time line element. This caveat applies even if the modification preserves the number of independent gauge transformations and the modified constraints remain first class. Here, a complete derivation of covariance conditions, regained from the canonical constraints without assuming that space-time has its classical structure, is presented and applied in detail to spherically symmetric vacuum models. As a broad application, the presence of structure functions in the constraint brackets plays a crucial role, which in an independent analysis has recently been shown to lead to higher algebraic structures in hypersurface deformations given by an L-infinity bracket. The physical analysis of a related feature presented here demonstrates that, at least within the spherically symmetric setting, new theories of modified gravity are possible that are not of higher-curvature form.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2023

Freeze-free cosmological evolution with a non-monotonic internal clock

Given the lack of an absolute time parameter in general relativistic systems, quantum cosmology often describes the expansion of the universe in terms of relational changes between two degrees of freedom, such as matter and geometry. However, if clock degrees of freedom (self-)interact non-trivially, they in general have turning points where their momenta vanish. At and beyond a turning point, the evolution of other degrees of freedom is no longer described directly by changes of the clock parameter because it stops and then turns back, while time is moving forward. Previous attempts to describe quantum evolution relative to a clock with turning points have failed and led to frozen evolution in which degrees of freedom remain constant while the clock parameter, interpreted directly as a substitute for monotonic time, is being pushed beyond its turning point. Here, a new method previously used in oscillator systems is applied to a tractable cosmological model, given by an isotropic universe with spatial curvature and scalar matter. The re-collapsing scale factor presents an example of a clock with a single turning point. The method succeeds in defining unitary and freeze-free evolution by unwinding the turning point of the clock, introducing an effective monotonic time parameter that is related to but not identical with the non-monotonic clock degree of freedom. Characteristic new quantum features are found around the turning point, based on analytical and numerical calculations.

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arXiv2023

Reduction of primordial chaos by generic quantum effects

According to general relativity, the generic early-universe dynamics is chaotic. Various quantum-gravity effects have been suggested that may change this behavior in different ways. Here, it is shown how key mathematical properties of the classical dynamics can be extended to evolving quantum states using quasiclassical methods, making it possible to apply the established dynamical-systems approach to chaos even to quantum evolution. As a result, it is found that quantum fluctuations contribute to the reduction of the primordial chaos in early-universe models.

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arXiv2023

Chaos in a tunneling universe

A recent quasiclassical description of a tunneling universe model is shown to exhibit chaotic dynamics by an analysis of fractal dimensions in the plane of initial values. This result relies on non-adiabatic features of the quantum dynamics, captured by new quasiclassical methods. Chaotic dynamics in the early universe, described by such models, implies that a larger set of initial values of any large expanding branch can be probed.

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arXiv2023

Canonical description of quantum dynamics

Some of the important non-classical aspects of quantum mechanics can be described in more intuitive terms if they are reformulated in a geometrical picture based on an extension of the classical phase space. This contribution presents various phase-space properties of moments describing a quantum state and its dynamics. An example of a geometrical reformulation of a non-classical quantum effect is given by an equivalence between conditions imposed by uncertainty relations and centrifugal barriers, respectively.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2022

An algebraic approach to the "frozen formalism" problem of time

The long-standing problem of time in canonical quantum gravity is the source of several conceptual and technical issues. Here, recent mathematical results are used to provide a consistent algebraic formulation of dynamical symplectic reduction that avoids difficult requirements such as the computation of a complete set of Dirac observables or the construction of a physical Hilbert space. In addition, the new algebraic treatment makes it possible to implement a consistent realization of the gauge structure off the constraint surface. As a consequence, previously unrecognized consistency conditions are imposed on deparameterization -- the method traditionally used to unfreeze evolution in completely constrained systems. A detailed discussion of how the new formulation extends previous semiclassical results shows that an internal time degree of freedom need not be semiclassical in order to define a consistent quantum evolution.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Algebraic properties of quantum reference frames: Does time fluctuate?

Quantum reference frames are expected to differ from classical reference frames because they have to implement typical quantum features such as fluctuations and correlations. Here, we show that fluctuations and correlations of reference variables, in particular of time, are restricted by their very nature of being used for reference. Mathematically, this property is implemented by imposing constraints on the system to make sure that reference variables are not physical degrees of freedom. These constraints not only relate physical degrees of freedom to reference variables in order to describe their behavior, they also restrict quantum fluctuations of reference variables and their correlations with system degrees of freedom. We introduce the notion of "almost-positive" states as a suitable mathematical method. An explicit application of their properties to examples of recent interest in quantum reference frames reveals previously unrecognized restrictions on possible frame-system interactions. While currently discussed clock models rely on assumptions that, as shown here, make them consistent as quantum reference frames, relaxing these assumptions will expose the models to new restrictions that appear to be rather strong. Almost-positive states also shed some light on a recent debate about the consistency of relational quantum mechanics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2022

Quasiclassical model of inhomogeneous cosmology

Fluctuation terms and higher moments of a quantum state imply corrections to the classical equations of motion that may have implications in early-universe cosmology, for instance in the state-dependent form of effective potentials. In addition, space-time properties are relevant in cosmology, in particular when combined with quantum corrections required to maintain general covariance in a consistent way. Here, an extension of previous investigations of static quasiclassical space-time models to dynamical ones is presented, describing the evolution of 1-dimensional space as in the classical Lemaitre--Tolman--Bondi models. The corresponding spatial metric has two independent components, both of which are in general subject to quantum fluctuations. The main result is that individual moments from both components are indeed required for general covariance to be maintained at a semiclassical level, while quantum correlations between the components are less relevant.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Comment on "Towards a quantum notion of covariance in spherically symmetric loop quantum gravity"

A recent paper promises new constructions that may make it possible to achieve covariance in spherically symmetric models of loop quantum gravity. This claim is contrary to the discovery of several stubborn obstacles to covariance uncovered in the same models during the last few years. As the authors point out in their abstract, new progress is supposedly possible if one takes into account crucial features of a certain partial Abelianization of the gauge transformations of spherically symmetric gravity, published by the same authors. In canonical form, these gauge transformations are given by hypersurface deformations. A closer inspection of the technical calculations shows that spherically symmetric hypersurface deformations are, in fact, violated in the construction.

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