Mikhail Kagan

Anomaly freedom in perturbative loop quantum gravity

A fully consistent linear perturbation theory for cosmology is derived in the presence of quantum corrections as they are suggested by properties of inverse volume operators in loop quantum gravity. The underlying constraints present a consistent deformation of the classical system, which shows that the discreteness in loop quantum gravity can be implemented in effective equations without spoiling space-time covariance. Nevertheless, nontrivial quantum corrections do arise in the constraint algebra. Since correction terms must appear in tightly controlled forms to avoid anomalies, detailed insights for the correct implementation of constraint operators can be gained. The procedures of this article thus provide a clear link between fundamental quantum gravity and phenomenology.

Gauge invariant cosmological perturbation equations with corrections from loop quantum gravity

A consistent implementation of quantum gravity is expected to change the familiar notions of space, time, and the propagation of matter in drastic ways. This will have consequences on very small scales, but also gives rise to correction terms in evolution equations of modes relevant for observations. In particular, the evolution of inhomogeneities in the very early Universe should be affected. In this paper consistent evolution equations for gauge-invariant perturbations in the presence of inverse triad corrections of loop quantum gravity are derived. Some immediate effects are pointed out, for instance, concerning conservation of power on large scales and nonadiabaticity. It is also emphasized that several critical corrections can only be seen to arise in a fully consistent treatment where the gauge freedom of canonical gravity is not fixed before implementing quantum corrections. In particular, metric modes must be allowed to be inhomogeneous: it is not consistent to assume only matter inhomogeneities on a quantum-corrected homogeneous background geometry. In this way, stringent consistency conditions arise for possible quantization ambiguities, which will eventually be further constrained observationally.

Thermally induced birefringence in Faraday devices made from terbium gallium garnet-polycrystalline ceramics

We have developed a model that describes thermally induced birefringence in polycrystalline ceramics that are exposed to a magnetic field. Conditions under which traditional compensation techniques (for glass and single crystals) can be effective for ceramics have been found. It is shown that a ceramic is almost equivalent to a [111]-oriented crystal if the ratio of the rod length to the grain size is approximately 300 or more. In particular, residual depolarization (after the compensation techniques are applied) is inversely proportional to this ratio, which is an important consequence of the random nature of thermally induced birefringence in ceramics.

Hamiltonian cosmological perturbation theory with loop quantum gravity corrections

Cosmological perturbation equations are derived systematically in a canonical scheme based on Ashtekar variables. A comparison with the covariant derivation and various subtleties in the calculation and choice of gauges are pointed out. Nevertheless, the treatment is more systematic when correction terms of canonical quantum gravity are to be included. This is done throughout the paper for one example of characteristic modifications expected from loop quantum gravity.Inhomogeneous cosmological perturbation equations are derived in loop quantum gravity, taking into account corrections, in particular, in gravitational parts. This provides a framework for calculating the evolution of modes in structure formation scenarios related to inflationary or bouncing models. Applications here are corrections to the Newton potential and to the evolution of large scale modes which imply nonconservation of curvature perturbations possibly noticeable in a running spectral index. These effects are sensitive to quantization procedures and test the characteristic behavior of correction terms derived from quantum gravity.

Anomaly-free cosmological perturbations in effective canonical quantum gravity

This article lays out a complete framework for an effective theory of cosmological perturbations with corrections from canonical quantum gravity. Since several examples exist for quantum-gravity effects that change the structure of space-time, the classical perturbative treatment must be rethought carefully. The present discussion provides a unified picture of several previous works, together with new treatments of higher-order perturbations and the specification of initial states.

Formation and evolution of structure in loop cosmology.

Inhomogeneous cosmological perturbation equations are derived in loop quantum gravity, taking into account corrections, in particular, in gravitational parts. This provides a framework for calculating the evolution of modes in structure formation scenarios related to inflationary or bouncing models. Applications here are corrections to the Newton potential and to the evolution of large scale modes which imply nonconservation of curvature perturbations possibly noticeable in a running spectral index. These effects are sensitive to quantization procedures and test the characteristic behavior of correction terms derived from quantum gravity.

Effective constraints of loop quantum gravity

Within a perturbative cosmological regime of loop quantum gravity corrections to effective constraints are computed. This takes into account all inhomogeneous degrees of freedom relevant for scalar metric modes around flat space and results in explicit expressions for modified coefficients and of higher order terms. It also illustrates the role of different scales determining the relative magnitude of corrections. Our results demonstrate that loop quantum gravity has the correct classical limit, at least in its sector of cosmological perturbations around flat space, in the sense of perturbative effective theory.

Singularities in isotropic non-minimal scalar field models

Non-minimally coupling a scalar field to gravity introduces an additional curvature term into the action which can change the general behaviour in strong curvature regimes, in particular close to classical singularities. While one can conformally transform any non-minimal model to a minimally coupled one, that transformation can itself become singular. It is thus not guaranteed that all qualitative properties are shared by minimal and non-minimal models. This paper addresses the classical singularity issue in isotropic models and extends singularity removal in quantum gravity to non-minimal models.

Loop cosmological implications of a nonminimally coupled scalar field

Nonminimal actions with matter represented by a scalar field coupled to gravity are considered in the context of a homogeneous and isotropic universe. The coupling is of the form -(1/2){xi}{phi}{sup 2}R. The possibility of successful inflation is investigated taking into account features of loop cosmology. For that end a conformal transformation is performed. That brings the theory into the standard minimally coupled form (Einstein frame) with some effective field and its potential. Both analytical and numerical estimates show that a negative coupling constant is preferable for successful inflation. Moreover, provided fixed initial conditions, larger {xi} leads to a greater number of e-folds. The latter is obtained for a reasonable range of initial conditions and the coupling parameter and indicates a possibility for successful inflation.

Phenomenological implications of an alternative Hamiltonian constraint for quantum cosmology

In this paper we review a model based on loop quantum cosmology that arises from a symmetry reduction of the self-dual Plebanski action. In this formulation the symmetry reduction leads to a very simple Hamiltonian constraint that can be quantized explicitly in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. We investigate the phenomenological implications of this model in the semiclassical regime and compare those with the known results of the standard Loop Quantum Cosmology.