Ebook: Quantum Gravity, Quantum Cosmology and Lorentzian Geometries

The first aim of this book is to describe recent work on the problem of boundary conditions in one-loop quantum cosmology. The motivation is to understand whether supersymmetric theories are one-loop finite in the presence of boundaries. The second aim of the book is to present a recent, entirely new study of the singularity problem for space-times with torsion. The book is written in self-contained form. In many cases problems have been initially formulated in the simplest possible way, and finally presented and solved at increasing levels of complexity. Readers will find here a detailed and updated study of quantum cosmology, its motivation, and application to perturbative quantum gravity. Moreover, this is the first book which enables the reader to learn techniques used in classical gravity and quantum cosmology. The second edition adds new material to both the text and the bibliography.

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The first aim of this book is to describe recent work on the problem of boundary conditions in one-loop quantum cosmology. The motivation is to understand whether supersymmetric theories are one-loop finite in the presence of boundaries. The second aim of the book is to present a recent, entirely new study of the singularity problem for space-times with torsion. The book is written in self-contained form. In many cases problems have been initially formulated in the simplest possible way, and finally presented and solved at increasing levels of complexity. Readers will find here a detailed and updated study of quantum cosmology, its motivation, and application to perturbative quantum gravity. Moreover, this is the first book which enables the reader to learn techniques used in classical gravity and quantum cosmology. The second edition adds new material to both the text and the bibliography.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Quantum Gravity, Quantum Cosmology and Classical Gravity....Pages 3-26
Canonical Quantum Gravity....Pages 27-52
Perturbative Quantum Gravity....Pages 53-76
Front Matter....Pages 77-77
Global Boundary Conditions and ?(0) Value for the Massless Spin-1/2 Field....Pages 79-102
Choice of Boundary Conditions in One-Loop Quantum Cosmology....Pages 103-151
Ghost Fields and Gauge Modes in One-Loop Quantum Cosmology....Pages 152-187
Local Boundary Conditions for the Weyl Spinor....Pages 188-213
One-Loop Results for the Spin-1/2 Field with Local Boundary Conditions....Pages 214-229
Local Supersymmetry in Perturbative Quantum Cosmology....Pages 230-242
Front Matter....Pages 243-243
Lorentzian Geometry, U 4 Theories and Singularities in Cosmology....Pages 245-299
Front Matter....Pages 301-301
Conclusions....Pages 303-309
Back Matter....Pages 310-352

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The first aim of this book is to describe recent work on the problem of boundary conditions in one-loop quantum cosmology. The motivation is to understand whether supersymmetric theories are one-loop finite in the presence of boundaries. The second aim of the book is to present a recent, entirely new study of the singularity problem for space-times with torsion. The book is written in self-contained form. In many cases problems have been initially formulated in the simplest possible way, and finally presented and solved at increasing levels of complexity. Readers will find here a detailed and updated study of quantum cosmology, its motivation, and application to perturbative quantum gravity. Moreover, this is the first book which enables the reader to learn techniques used in classical gravity and quantum cosmology. The second edition adds new material to both the text and the bibliography.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Quantum Gravity, Quantum Cosmology and Classical Gravity....Pages 3-26
Canonical Quantum Gravity....Pages 27-52
Perturbative Quantum Gravity....Pages 53-76
Front Matter....Pages 77-77
Global Boundary Conditions and ?(0) Value for the Massless Spin-1/2 Field....Pages 79-102
Choice of Boundary Conditions in One-Loop Quantum Cosmology....Pages 103-151
Ghost Fields and Gauge Modes in One-Loop Quantum Cosmology....Pages 152-187
Local Boundary Conditions for the Weyl Spinor....Pages 188-213
One-Loop Results for the Spin-1/2 Field with Local Boundary Conditions....Pages 214-229
Local Supersymmetry in Perturbative Quantum Cosmology....Pages 230-242
Front Matter....Pages 243-243
Lorentzian Geometry, U 4 Theories and Singularities in Cosmology....Pages 245-299
Front Matter....Pages 301-301
Conclusions....Pages 303-309
Back Matter....Pages 310-352
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