This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to our use of cookies. To find out more, see our Privacy and Cookies policy.
Paper The following article is Open access

Internal clocks in timeless universe

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation Przemysław Małkiewicz 2017 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 880 012046 DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/880/1/012046

1742-6596/880/1/012046

Abstract

The Hamiltonian formalism of general relativity involves a Hamiltonian constraint. Attempts at quantisation of the Hamiltonian constraint formalism face an obstacle associated with the lack of predetermined time parameter whose existence is assumed in usual quantisation prescriptions. A way to deal with it is to employ an arbitrary internal degree of freedom as the internal clock to describe the evolution of a gravitational system. We use the so called reduced phase space approach in which the choice of internal clock is made prior to quantisation. We discuss the construction of reduced phase spaces based on the essential role played by internal clocks. Then we introduce the so called extended transformations which extend the well-known notion of canonical transformations. The extended transformations elucidate the relation between the canonical structure of the reduced phase space and the internal clock. Quantisation of reduced phase spaces and respective Hamiltonians reveals the relation between quantum dynamics and the choice of internal clock. Finally, we discuss concrete examples of canonical formalisms of the Friedmann-Lemaitre universe and Bianchi type I universe. We find that many physical features of the quantum dynamics depend on the choice of internal clock. In the Conclusions we speculate about the possible physical meaning of the result.

Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

Please wait… references are loading.
10.1088/1742-6596/880/1/012046