Showing papers by "Jerzy Lewandowski published in 1994"

Projective Techniques and Functional Integration

Abstract: A general framework for integration over certain infinite dimensional spaces is first developed using projective limits of a projective family of compact Hausdorff spaces. The procedure is then applied to gauge theories to carry out integration over the non-linear, infinite dimensional spaces of connections modulo gauge transformations. This method of evaluating functional integrals can be used either in the Euclidean path integral approach or the Lorentzian canonical approach. A number of measures discussed are diffeomorphism invariant and therefore of interest to (the connection dynamics version of) quantum general relativity. The account is pedagogical; in particular prior knowledge of projective techniques is not assumed. (For the special JMP issue on Functional Integration, edited by C. DeWitt-Morette.)

Coherent State Transforms for Spaces of Connections

Abstract: The Segal-Bargmann transform plays an important role in quantum theories of linear fields. Recently, Hall obtained a non-linear analog of this transform for quantum mechanics on Lie groups. Given a compact, connected Lie group $G$ with its normalized Haar measure $\mu_H$, the Hall transform is an isometric isomorphism from $L^2(G, \mu_H)$ to ${\cal H}(G^{\Co})\cap L^2(G^{\Co}, u)$, where $G^{\Co}$ the complexification of $G$, ${\cal H}(G^{\Co})$ the space of holomorphic functions on $G^{\Co}$, and $ u$ an appropriate heat-kernel measure on $G^{\Co}$. We extend the Hall transform to the infinite dimensional context of non-Abelian gauge theories by replacing the Lie group $G$ by (a certain extension of) the space ${\cal A}/{\cal G}$ of connections modulo gauge transformations. The resulting ``coherent state transform'' provides a holomorphic representation of the holonomy $C^\star$ algebra of real gauge fields. This representation is expected to play a key role in a non-perturbative, canonical approach to quantum gravity in 4-dimensions.

Topological measure and graph-differential geometry on the quotient space of connections

Abstract: Integral calculus on the space of gauge equivalent connections is developed. By carring out a non-linear generalization of the theory of cylindrical measures on topological vector spaces, a faithfull, diffeomorphism invariant measure is introduced on a suitable completion of . The strip (i.e. momentum) operators are densely-defined in the resulting Hilbert space and interact with the measure correctly

Topological Measure and Graph-Differential Geometry on the Quotient Space of Connections

Abstract: (This is a report for the Proceedings of ``Journees Relativistes 1993'' written in September 1993. Containes a short description of the results published elsewhere in the joint paper with A. Ashtekar) Integral calculus on the space of gauge equivalent connections is developed. By carring out a non-linear generalization of the theory of cylindrical measures on topological vector spaces, a faithfull, diffeomorphism invariant measure is introduced on a suitable completion of the quotient space. The strip (i.e. momentum) operators are densely-defined in the resulting Hilbert space and interact with the measure correctly, to become essentially self adjoint operators.

A manifestly gauge-invariant approach to quantum theories of gauge fields

Abstract: Author(s): ASHTEKAR, A; LEWANDOWSKI, J; MAROLF, D; MOURAO, J; THIEMANN, T | Abstract: In gauge theories, physical histories are represented by space-time connections modulo gauge transformations. The space of histories is thus intrinsically non-linear. The standard framework of constructive quantum field theory has to be extended to face these {\it kinematical} non-linearities squarely. We first present a pedagogical account of this problem and then suggest an avenue for its resolution.

Differential Geometry for the Space of Connections Modulo Gauge Transformations

Abstract: (This short article is a continuation of a longer, review work, in the same volume of Proceedings, by Ashtekar, Marolf and Mour\~ao [gr-qc/9403042]. All the details and other results are to be found in joint papers of the author with Abhay Ashtekar.) The projective limit technics derived for spaces of connections are extended to a new framework which for the associated projective limit plays a role of the differential geometry. It provides us with powerfull technics for construction and studding various operators. In particular, we introduce the commutator algebra of `vector fields', define a divergence of a vector field and find for them a quantum representation. Among the vector fields, there are operators which we identify as regularised Rovelli-Smolin loop operators linear in momenta. Another class of operators which comes out naturally are Laplace operators.

Differential Geometry on the Space of Connections via Graphs and Projective Limits

Abstract: In a quantum mechanical treatment of gauge theories (including general relativity), one is led to consider a certain completion, $\agb$, of the space $\ag$ of gauge equivalent connections. This space serves as the quantum configuration space, or, as the space of all Euclidean histories over which one must integrate in the quantum theory. $\agb$ is a very large space and serves as a ``universal home'' for measures in theories in which the Wilson loop observables are well-defined. In this paper, $\agb$ is considered as the projective limit of a projective family of compact Hausdorff manifolds, labelled by graphs (which can be regarded as ``floating lattices'' in the physics terminology). Using this characterization, differential geometry is developed through algebraic methods. In particular, we are able to introduce the following notions on $\agb$: differential forms, exterior derivatives, volume forms, vector fields and Lie brackets between them, divergence of a vector field with respect to a volume form, Laplacians and associated heat kernels and heat kernel measures. Thus, although $\agb$ is very large, it is small enough to be mathematically interesting and physically useful. A key feature of this approach is that it does not require a background metric. The geometrical framework is therefore well-suited for diffeomorphism invariant theories such as quantum general relativity.

A Manifestly Gauge-Invariant Approach to Quantum Theories of Gauge Fields

Abstract: In gauge theories, physical histories are represented by space-time connections modulo gauge transformations. The space of histories is thus intrinsically non-linear. The standard framework of constructive quantum field theory has to be extended to face these {\it kinematical} non-linearities squarely. We first present a pedagogical account of this problem and then suggest an avenue for its resolution.