On decoherence in quantum gravity

DOI10.1002/ANDP.201600011zbMATH Open1356.81221arXiv1508.05377OpenAlexW2533643271WikidataQ59713298 ScholiaQ59713298MaRDI QIDQ2956802FDOQ2956802

Authors: Dmitry Podolsky, Robert Lanza 

Publication date: 19 January 2017

Published in: Annalen der Physik (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: It was previously argued that the phenomenon of quantum gravitational decoherence described by the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is responsible for the emergence of the arrow of time. Here we show that the characteristic spatio-temporal scales of quantum gravitational decoherence are typically logarithmically larger than a characteristic curvature radius $R^{-1/2}$ of the background space-time with a factor under the logarithm proportional to $M_P^2/R$. This largeness is a direct consequence of the fact that gravity is a non-renormalizable theory, as the corresponding effective field theory is nearly decoupled from matter degrees of freedom in the physical limit $M_{P}oinfty$. Therefore, as such, quantum gravitational decoherence is too ineffective to guarantee the emergence of the arrow of time at scales of physical interest. We argue that the emergence of the arrow of time is directly related to the nature and properties of physical observer.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.05377

Recommendations

• Fundamental decoherence from quantum gravity: a pedagogical review
• A master equation for gravitational decoherence: probing the textures of spacetime
• A microscopic Liouville arrow of time
• Decoherence and time emergence
• Less interpretation and more decoherence in quantum gravity and inflationary cosmology

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Semiclassical techniques, including WKB and Maslov methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81Q20) Gravitational interaction in quantum theory (81V17) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45) Open systems, reduced dynamics, master equations, decoherence (81S22)

Cites Work

• Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical
• Path integral approach to quantum Brownian motion
• Geometric analysis of \(\phi^ 4\) fields and Ising models. I, II
• Black holes and large N species solution to the hierarchy problem
• Pointer states for primordial fluctuations in inflationary cosmology
• Quantum Solution to the Arrow-of-Time Dilemma
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• A master equation for gravitational decoherence: probing the textures of spacetime

Cited In (15)

• On a physical description and origin of the cosmological constant
• Discriminating quantum gravity models by gravitational decoherence
• Quantum speed limit and stability of coherent states in quantum gravity
• Less decoherence and more coherence in quantum gravity, inflationary cosmology and elsewhere
• A gravitationally induced decoherence model using Ashtekar variables
• Decoherence of Dirac‐Quantumness for Open Particles in a Dilatonic Black Hole
• Parisi-Sourlas-like dimensional reduction of quantum gravity in the presence of observers
• Local measurement-induced minimal decoherence and its variants
• Gravity and decoherence: the double slit experiment revisited
• Fundamental decoherence from quantum gravity: a pedagogical review
• QUANTUM COSMIC CENSOR: GRAVITATION MAKES REALITY UNDECIDABLE
• A master equation for gravitational decoherence: probing the textures of spacetime
• Information transfer during the universal gravitational decoherence
• Surface state decoherence in loop quantum gravity, a first toy model
• Decoherence and time emergence

This page was built for publication: On decoherence in quantum gravity

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2956802)