Comparing Candidate Theories of Quantum Gravity

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the exploration of candidate theories of quantum gravity, with participants seeking recommendations for literature that encapsulates the main ideas and philosophies behind these theories. Key references include Viatcheslav Mukhanov's "Introduction to Quantum Effects" and a review by Sean Carlip available on arXiv. Participants emphasize the importance of finding resources that are not overly reliant on Wikipedia and express a preference for more structured academic texts. The conversation highlights the need for a clear understanding of various approaches to quantum gravity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with quantum field theory (QFT)
  • Basic understanding of general relativity
  • Knowledge of Hawking radiation and its implications
  • Awareness of academic literature and research methodologies
NEXT STEPS
  • Read Viatcheslav Mukhanov's "Introduction to Quantum Effects"
  • Explore Sean Carlip's overview on arXiv (gr-qc/0108040)
  • Investigate the book "Approaches to Quantum Gravity" for various theoretical perspectives
  • Review additional references provided in the arXiv articles for broader context
USEFUL FOR

Students and researchers in theoretical physics, particularly those interested in quantum gravity, as well as educators seeking comprehensive resources for teaching these complex concepts.

Bertin
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Hi, you all,

I have been for a couple of semesters interested in quantum gravity as a problem, but truth is I never have been properly introduced to any of the candidate theories. Actually, there are multiple candidates and I would like to compare them. The question then is the following: do you know of any monograph or small set of articles I can read to get a impression of the main ideas and "philosophy" behind each of the most common theories, in order for me to find the one that pleases me more? Despite how useful it is for other things, I really don't like using Wikipedia in this case.

Thank you in advance!
 
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Bertin said:
Is this book "approach independent"? Why do you recommend it?

This is a wonderful book, but it is not about theories of quantum gravity, it is about Hawking radiation and related effects, e.g., in expanding spacetimes. Standard QFT is about quantum fields in the a fixed spacetime that is Minkowski spacetime. This book is about quantum fields in other fixed (non-quantized) spacetimes. In my opinion this book is the best short, pedagogical introduction to Hawking radiation and related effects.
 
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malawi_glenn said:
There are plenty of other useful references in the wiki article.
Ok, thank you very much. I'll look further into the references there, sorry for not having checked better!
 
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