Reassessing the problem of time of quantum gravity

DOI10.1007/S10714-023-03067-XzbMATH Open1528.83039arXiv2301.07973OpenAlexW4317936012MaRDI QIDQ6132912FDOQ6132912

Álvaro Mozota Frauca

Publication date: 15 July 2023

Published in: General Relativity and Gravitation (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In this paper I raise a worry about the most extended resolutions of the problem of time of canonical quantizations of general relativity. The reason for this is that these resolutions are based on analogies with deparametrizable models for which the problem can be solved, while I argue in this paper that there are good reasons for doubting about these resolutions when the theory is not deparametrizable, which is the case of general relativity. I introduce an example of a non-deparametrizable model, a double harmonic oscillator system expressed by its Jacobi action, and argue that the problem of time for this model is not solvable, in the sense that its canonical quantization doesn't lead to the quantum theory of two harmonic oscillators and the standard resolutions of the problem of time don't work for this case. I argue that as general relativity is strongly analogous to this model, one should take seriously the view that the canonical quantization of general relativity doesn't lead to a meaningful quantum theory. Finally, I comment that this has an impact on the foundations of different approaches to quantum gravity.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.07973

zbMATH Keywords

quantum gravityconstrained systemsgeneral relativitycanonical quantizationproblem of time

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Real analysis on time scales or measure chains (26E70) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45) Constrained dynamics, Dirac's theory of constraints (70H45) Canonical quantization (81S08)

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Cited In (6)

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Foundational issues in group field theory
• Wheeler-DeWitt equation and the late gravitational collapse: effects of factor ordering and the tunneling scenario
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Quantum limit on time measurement in a gravitational field
• Does time differ from change? Philosophical appraisal of the problem of time in quantum gravity and in physics

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