Observables in Classical Gravity| Observables in Classical Gravity |
In General
> s.a. 3D gravity; canonical general relativity [diffeomorphisms];
parametrized theories; unimodular relativity.
* Physical observables: Diffeomorphism-invariant
functions of the dynamical field variables (configuration space or phase space).
* Rem: In an abstract sense, observables are
as defined above; But this may not be very useful physically, so (as emphasized by Ehlers)
keep in mind that the real observables are those related to proper times and lengths,
and things one can actually measure.
* Requirement on the set of observables:
Observables should be "local" (space or spacetime integrals of quantities expressed
in terms of the metric field and its derivatives) and the set should be "large" (it
should separate the points of physical phase space).
* Problem: Gravity does not admit any local
(gauge invariant) observables.
* Chaos and observables: Because general
relativity is likely chaotic, observables have to be generalized to non-differentiable or
even discontinuous ones, which do not admit a standard quantization; Dittrich et al propose
to use a polymer-type spacetime topology so that enough observables become continuous.
* How to find observables: One way to define
observables is to deparametrize the theory and obtain a preferred time; But this cannot be done
in the full theory, only in some sectors; Another approach is that of relational observables,
proposed by Rovelli and generalized to field theory by Dittrich; Given a function f on
phase space and a "clock" function T, the observable F gives the
value of f when T has some given value τ.
@ Reviews: Giesel IJMPA(08)-proc.
@ General references: Bergmann RMP(61),
in(65); Ohta & Kimura NCB(91);
Rovelli CQG(91);
Torre CQG(91),
gq/94-conf;
Anderson gq/92;
Efroimsky & Lazarian CQG(93);
Torre PRD(93)gq [no known ones for closed spacetimes];
Lusanna & Pauri GRG(06)gq/04 [Bergmann vs Dirac observables];
Pons et al MPLA(09)-a0902,
CQG(10)-a1001-proc;
Anderson Sigma(14)-a1312 [and beables, in classical and quantum gravity];
Dittrich et al PLB(17)-a1602 [continuity of observables, chaos and spacetime topology];
Pitts CQG(17)-a1609
& CQG+ [and change, for equivalent theories].
@ And gauge, diffeomorphism invariance:
Husain in(94) [and diffeomorphism invariance];
Pons CQG(01)gq [and gauge];
Khavkine CQG(15)-a1503
& CQG+ [generalized local gauge-invariant observables];
Donnelly & Giddings PRD(16)-a1507 [diffeomorphism-invariant observables, non-local algebra];
Giddings PRD(19)-a1903 [dressed non-gauge-invariant observables, soft charges];
Gambini et al CQG(20)-a2003 [non-local, and the loop approach to gravity].
@ Related topics: Lusanna gq/02-conf [and non-inertial observers],
gq/03-conf [and Einstein's hole argument].
> Related topics: see Event;
gauge transformations; riemann tensor [invariants];
time in gravitation.
Types of Observables
> s.a. Gravitational Memory [persistent observables].
@ Relational: Westman & Sonego FP(08)-a0708,
AP(09)-a0711 [and symmetries, coordinates];
Girelli & Poulin PRD(08) [and deformed symmetries];
Tambornino Sigma(12)-a1109 [rev];
Dapor et al PRD(13)-a1305 [general formulation];
Chataignier PRD(21)-a2006 [and conditional probabilities];
> s.a. FLRW quantum cosmology.
@ Evolving constants, t-dependent invariants:
Page & Wootters PRD(83);
Anderson gq/05;
Pons & Salisbury PRD(05)gq;
Gambini et al PRD(09)-a0809 [and relational time];
Pitts FP(18)-a1803.
@ Partial observables: Rovelli PRD(02)gq/01;
Dittrich GRG(07)gq/04,
CQG(06)gq/05.
@ Dirac eigenvalues: Landi & Rovelli PRL(97)gq/96;
Abdalla et al PLB(02)gq [and symplectic form];
Dittrich & Tambornino CQG(07)gq/06 [approximation scheme].
@ Other observables: Smolin PRD(94)gq/93;
De Pietri & Rovelli CQG(95)gq/94;
Rovelli PRD(02)gq/01 [GPS-type];
Szabados CQG(06)gq/05 [2-surfaces];
Khavkine PRD(12) [astrometric observables, time delay];
Requardt a1206
[spontaneously broken diffeomorphism group and non-diffeomorphism-invariant observables];
Duch et al JHEP(14)-a1403,
JHEP(15)-a1503 [related to geometry];
Anderson a1604 [constrained theories and A-observables].
@ Related topics: Feng & Huang IJTP(97) ["Dirac condition does not apply"??];
Marolf CQG(15)-a1508 [non-locality, microcausality and chaos].
Special Systems and Related Theories
> s.a. Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi Spacetimes;
minisuperspace; spin-foam models.
@ Types of spacetimes:
Neville CQG(93) [plane waves];
Husain PRD(94)gq,
PRD(97)gq [2-Killing vector field reduction];
Salisbury et al GRG(08)gq/05 [Bianchi I + scalar, time-dependent invariants].
@ Gravitating bodies: Damour et al PRD(00)gq/99 [2-body];
Rovelli gq/01 [general relativity + particles].
> Related topics:
see observables [Einstein-Maxwell theory].
main page
– abbreviations
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– other sites – acknowledgements
send feedback and suggestions to bombelli at olemiss.edu – modified 21 jan 2021