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Loop Quantization of the Schwarzschild Black Hole

Rodolfo Gambini and Jorge Pullin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 211301 – Published 23 May 2013
Physics logo See Synopsis: At the Heart of a Black Hole

Abstract

We quantize spherically symmetric vacuum gravity without gauge fixing the diffeomorphism constraint. Through a rescaling, we make the algebra of Hamiltonian constraints Abelian, and therefore the constraint algebra is a true Lie algebra. This allows the completion of the Dirac quantization procedure using loop quantum gravity techniques. We can construct explicitly the exact solutions of the physical Hilbert space annihilated by all constraints. New observables living in the bulk appear at the quantum level (analogous to spin in quantum mechanics) that are not present at the classical level and are associated with the discrete nature of the spin network states of loop quantum gravity. The resulting quantum space-times resolve the singularity present in the classical theory inside black holes.

  • Received 6 March 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.211301

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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At the Heart of a Black Hole

Published 23 May 2013

A quantum gravity theory suggests that the cores of black holes may be a region of highly curved spacetime, rather than a singularity point with zero volume and infinite density.

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Authors & Affiliations

Rodolfo Gambini1 and Jorge Pullin2

  • 1Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Iguá 4225, esquina Mataojo, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-4001, USA

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Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 21 — 24 May 2013

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