Quantum Gravity

Produktbeschreibung

Focusing on the conceptual and foundational issues raised by quantum gravity, in particular the nature of space and time, this book presents the loop and spinfoam approach. Aimed at graduate students entering the field, as well as established researchers, it will also be of interest to philosophers of science. 

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface; Acknowledgements; Terminology and notation; Part I. Relativistic
Foundations: 1. General ideas and heuristic picture; 2. General relativity; 3.
Mechanics; 4. Hamiltonian general relativity; 5. Quantum mechanics; Part II.
Loop Quantum Gravity: 6. Quantum space; 7. Dynamics and matter; 8. Applications;
9. Quantum spacetime: spinfoams; 10. Conclusion; Part III. Appendices:
References; Index. 

Kritik

'In spite of its sociological success string theory is still far from a solution of the problem of quantum gravity which should be considered as wide open. The book of Carlo Rovelli provides the basis, both at the technical and the conceptual level, for research in this fundamental problem of physics. The basic issues are clearly and deeply analyzed without any dogmatic stand and with great freedom of thoughts resulting in an invaluable opportunity to learn and think for both mathematicians and physicists.' Alain Connes, CollŠge de France, I.H.E.S. and Vanderbilt University 

Autoreninfo

Rovelli, Carlo
Carlo Rovelli was born in Verona, Italy, in 1956 and obtained his Ph.D. in Physics in Padua in 1986. In 1996, he was awarded the Xanthopoulos International Prize, for the development of the loop approach to quantum gravity and for research on the foundation of the physics of space and time. Over the years he has taught and worked in the University of Pittsburgh; Universit‚ de la M‚diterrane‚, Marseille; and Universit… La Sapienza, Rome. Professor Rovelli's main research interests lie in general relativity, gravitational physics, and the philosophy of space and time. He has had over 100 articles published in international journals in physics and has written contributions for major encyclopedias.