Quantum Gravitation with loops

The quantum gravitation with loops is an attempt to create a theory of the quantum gravitation, and thus to unify the theory of the General relativity and the concepts of the Quantum physics. It is based on the direct canonical quantification of general relativity in a formulation Hamiltonien, the three other fundamental interactions not being considered initially. A difficulty of the approach is that time plays a singular part and that the general Covariance of the equations is not manifest any more.

A first Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity had been proposed by Arnowitt, Deser and Misner in 1962, but the canonical attempt at quantification of their theory by Wheeler and deWitt had not provided conclusive results, the equations obtained being too difficult to solve.

It is in 1988 qu ' an important progress took place, with the discovery of new canonical variables by Abhay Ashtekar. These variables made possible a canonical quantification. One of its results fundamental is that the space has a discrete structure (in opposition to the continuum Espace-temps of general relativity): the surfaces and volumes of space are quantified. Space is to some extent divisible in primitive pieces, kinds of “Atome S” of space.

In 2007, this theory is in competition with the Théorie of the supercordes.

Main actors

Here a list of the principal physicists working with this theory in 2007:

Abhay Ashtekar of Center for Gravitational Physics & Geometry, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania (E. - U.)
Lee Smolin of the Perimeter Institute for the theoretical physics of Waterloo (Canada).
Thomas Thiemann of the Institute Max-Planck (Albert-Einstein Institut, Potsdam, FRG), detached at the Perimeter Institute for the theoretical physics of Waterloo (Canada).
Carlo Rovelli of the Center of Theoretical physics of Marseilles (France).
Jorge Pullin of Louisiana State University (E. - U.)

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