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Quantum spin dynamics (QSD)

Classical and Quantum Gravity · 1998 · Vol. 15(4) · pp. 839–873
Thomas Thiemann

Abstract

An anomaly-free operator corresponding to the Wheeler-DeWitt constraint of Lorentzian, four-dimensional, canonical, non-perturbative vacuum gravity is constructed in the continuum. This operator is entirely free of factor ordering singularities and can be defined in symmetric and non-symmetric form. We work in the real connection representation and obtain a well-defined quantum theory. We compute the complete solution to the Quantum Einstein Equations for the non-symmetric version of the operator and a physical inner product thereon. The action of the Wheeler-DeWitt constraint on spin-network states is by annihilating, creating and rerouting the quanta of angular momentum associated with the edges of the underlying graph while the ADM-energy is essentially diagonalized by the spin-network states. We argue that the spin-network representation is the ``non-linear Fock representation" of quantum gravity, thus justifying the term ``Quantum Spin Dynamics (QSD)".

Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity TheoriesBlack Holes and Theoretical PhysicsCosmology and Gravitation TheoriesPhysicsGravitational singularityOperator (biology)Mathematical physicsQuantum gravitySpin foamWheeler–DeWitt equationConstraint (computer-aided design)Anomaly (physics)Canonical quantum gravity
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References
Quantum theory of geometry: I. Area operators
Classical and Quantum Gravity · 1997 · 787 citations
Quantum Theory of Gravity. I. The Canonical Theory
Physical Review · 1967 · 3,191 citations
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