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Włodzimierz Piechocki

Publications and source records attributed to Włodzimierz Piechocki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Semiclassical causal geodesics: Minkowski spacetime case

We use an integral quantization model based on the Heisenberg-Weyl group to describe the motion of a spinless particle in the Minkowski background spacetime. This work is a sequel to a previous paper, devoted to mathematical aspects of our model: construction of the space of coherent states and properties of elementary observables. We compute transition amplitudes corresponding to a free motion of a particle between two coherent states. These amplitudes are then used to model quantum random walks of free relativistic particles. Our quantization scheme allows us to recover interference patterns occurring in a standard double-slit experiment, known from the classical approach. This result is obtained by modeling the slits in terms of eigenstates of the position operator and computing transition amplitudes between position and coherent states. We design our model in a way which allows for a future generalization to a semi-classical quantization of the geodesic motion in curved spacetimes.

gr-qc↗

Integral quantization based on the Heisenberg-Weyl group

We develop a relativistic framework of integral quantization applied to the motion of spinless particles in the four-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. The proposed scheme is based on coherent states generated by the action of the Heisenberg-Weyl group and has been motivated by the Hamiltonian description of the geodesic motion in General Relativity. We believe that this formulation should also allow for a generalization to the motion of test particles in curved spacetimes. A key element in our construction is the use of suitably defined positive operator-valued measures. We show that this approach can be used to quantize the one-dimensional nonrelativistic harmonic oscillator, recovering the standard Hamiltonian as obtained by the canonical quantization. A direct application of our model, including a computation of transition amplitudes between states characterized by fixed positions and momenta, is postponed to a forthcoming article.

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Quantum dynamics of gravitational massive shell

The quantum dynamics of a self-gravitating thin matter shell in vacuum has been considered. Quantum Hamiltonian of the system is positive definite. Within chosen set of parameters, the quantum shell bounces above the horizon. Considered quantum system does not collapse to the gravitational singularity of the corresponding classical system.

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Quantum dynamics corresponding to chaotic BKL scenario

We quantize the solution to the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz (BKL) scenario using the integral quantization method. Quantization smears the gravitational singularity avoiding its localization in the configuration space. The latter is defined in terms of spatial and temporal coordinates, which are treated on the same footing that enables respecting covariance of general relativity. The relative quantum perturbations grow as the system evolves towards the gravitational singularity. The quantum randomness amplifies the deterministic classical chaos of the BKL scenario. Additionally, our results suggest that the generic singularity of general relativity can be avoided at quantum level giving support to the expectation that quantum gravity has good chance to be a regular theory.

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Ascribing quantum system to Schwarzschild spacetime with naked singularity

We quantize the Schwarzschild spacetime with naked singularity using the affine coherent states quantization method. The novelty of our approach is quantization of both temporal and spatial coordinates. Quantization smears the gravitational singularity indicated by the Kretschmann invariant avoiding its localization in the configuration space. This way we resolve the singularity problem of considered spacetime at quantum level.

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Generic instability of the dynamics underlying the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario

A class of exact solutions to the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz (BKL) scenario is derived and tested for their stability against small perturbations. These are the only regular solutions in the Painlevé sense. We prove that they are unstable in the vicinity of the cosmological singularity. Regularity of the dynamics is also examined with the dynamical systems method. Our results confirm the conjecture of BKL that the dynamics near the singularity becomes generically chaotic.

gr-qc↗

Hunting for gravitational quantum spikes

We present the result of our examination of quantum structures called quantum spikes. The classical spikes, that are known in gravitational systems, occur in the evolution of the inhomogeneous spacetimes. Different kind of spikes, which we name strange spikes, can be seen in the dynamics of the homogeneous sector of the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario. They can be made visible if the so-called inhomogeneous initial data are used. The question to be explored is whether the strange spikes may survive quantization. The answer is in the affirmative. However, this is rather a subtle effect that needs further examination using sophisticated analytical and numerical tools. The spikes seem to be of fundamental importance, both at classical and quantum levels, as they may serve as seeds of real structures in the universe.

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Dependence of the affine coherent states quantization on the parametrization of the affine group

The affine coherent states quantization is a promising integral quantization of Hamiltonian systems when the phase space includes at least one conjugate pair of variables which takes values from a half-plane. Such a situation is common for gravitational systems which include singularities. The construction of the quantization map includes a one-to-one mapping of the half-plane onto the affine group. Particular cases of this mapping define specific parametrizations of the group. Our aim is showing that different such parametrizations lead to unitarily inequivalent quantum theories. Depending on the Hamiltonian system under consideration, this dependence could potentially be used constructively.

math-ph↗

Quantum Oppenheimer-Snyder model

We construct two reduced quantum theories for the Oppenheimer-Snyder model, respectively taking the point of view of the comoving and the exterior stationary observer, using affine coherent states quantization. Investigations of the quantum corrected dynamics reveal that both observers can see a bounce, although for the exterior observer certain quantization ambiguities have to be chosen correctly. The minimal radius for this bounce as seen from the stationary observer is then shown to always be outside of the photon sphere. Possible avenues to lower this minimal radius and reclaim black holes as an intermediate state in the collapse are discussed. We demonstrate further that switching between the observers at the level of the quantum theories can be achieved by modifying the commutation relations.

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Generic singularity of general relativity and its quantum fate

The Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario concerns the existence of generic singularity of general relativity. At the singularity, there is a breakdown of all known laws of physics. Quantization of this scenario leads, however, to regular quantum evolution. The singularity is avoided by a quantum bounce. It is fairly probable that quantum general relativity, to be constructed, would be free from singularities. Thus, it could be used to address issues such as the quantum fates of cosmological and black holes singularities.

gr-qc↗

Hamiltonian formulation of dust cloud collapse

We consider the gravitational collapse of self-gravitating spherical dust cloud in the Hamiltonian formalism. We address both homogeneous and inhomogeneous cases. Our novel derivation of the Hamiltonian of the system is based on the improved variational principle that was proposed in \cite{KMM}. The present derivation differs from usual treatments due to the presence of an extra boundary term added to the Hilbert action. As expected, the standard equations of motion are retrieved. However, differently from other treatments, the total Hamiltonian obtained with our procedure in the Schwarzschild time-gauge is identical to the total mass of the system as measured from infinity, as it would be expected. Implications for the quantization of the system are suggested.

gr-qc↗

Robustness of the quantum BKL scenario

Quantum Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario presents an unitary evolution of the system. However, the affine coherent states quantization applied to the quantization of the underlying classical scenario depends on the choice of the group parametrization. Using two simplest parameterizations of the affine group, we show that qualitative features of our quantum system do not depend on the choice. It means that the quantum bounce replacing singular classical scenario is expected to be a generic feature of considered system. This paper complements our recent article [1].

gr-qc↗

Curvature invariants for the Bianchi IX spacetime filled with tilted dust

We present an analysis of the Kretschmann and Weyl squared scalars for the general Bianchi IX model filled with tilted dust. Particular attention is given to the asymptotic regime close to the singularity for which we provide heuristic considerations supported by numerical simulations. The present paper is an extension of our earlier publication [1].

gr-qc↗

Quantum Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz scenario

We present the quantum model of the asymptotic dynamics underlying the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz (BKL) scenario. The symmetry of the physical phase space enables making use of the affine coherent states quantization. Our results show that quantum dynamics is regular in the sense that during quantum evolution the expectation values of all considered observables are finite. The classical singularity of the BKL scenario is replaced by the quantum bounce that presents a unitary evolution of considered gravitational system. Our results suggest that quantum general relativity is free from singularities.

gr-qc↗

On the dynamics of the general Bianchi IX spacetime near the singularity

We show that the complex dynamics of the general Bianchi IX universe in the vicinity of the spacelike singularity can be approximated by a simplified system of equations. Our analysis is mainly based on numerical simulations. The properties of the solution space can be studied by using this simplified dynamics. Our results will be useful for the quantization of the general Bianchi IX model.

gr-qc↗

Dynamical structures specific to strong gravitational field: Quantum formalism

The dynamics of the general Bianchi IX spacetime, near the gravitational singularity, underlies the Belinskii, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz scenario. Asymptotically, near the singularity, the oscillations of the directional scale factors (defining the spacetime metric) are freezed so the evolution of the Bianchi IX model is devoid of chaotic features. However, it includes special structures, that we call the wiggles, which change their properties in the asymptotic regime. We propose the formalism, based on an affine quantization scheme, to examine the fate of the wiggles at the quantum level. We present the way of comparing the classical wiggles with their quantum counterparts. We expect that our work may contribute towards understanding some quantum aspects of the BKL scenario.

gr-qc↗

Singularity avoidance in a quantum model of the Mixmaster universe

We present a quantum model of the vacuum Bianchi-IX dynamics. It is based on four main elements. First, we use a compound quantization procedure: an affine coherent state quantization for isotropic variables and a Weyl quantization for anisotropic ones. Second, inspired by standard approaches in molecular physics, we make an adiabatic approximation (Born-Oppenheimer-like approximation). Third, we expand the anisotropy potential about its minimum in order to deal with its harmonic approximation. Fourth, we develop an analytical treatment on the semiclassical level. The resolution of the classical singularity occurs due to a repulsive potential generated by the affine quantization. This procedure shows that during contraction the quantum energy of anisotropic degrees of freedom grows much slower than the classical one. Furthermore, far from the quantum bounce, the classical recollapse is reproduced. Our treatment is put in the general context of methods of molecular physics, which can include both adiabatic and nonadiabatic approximations.

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Smooth Quantum Dynamics of Mixmaster Universe

We present a quantum version of the vacuum Bianchi IX model by implementing affine coherent state quantization combined with a Born-Oppenheimer-like adiabatic approximation. The analytical treatment is carried out on both quantum and semiclassical levels. The resolution of the classical singularity occurs by means of a repulsive potential generated by our quantization procedure. The quantization of the oscillatory degrees of freedom produces a radiation energy density term in the semiclassical constraint equation. The Friedmann-like lowest energy eigenstates of the system are found to be dynamically stable.

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