Lecture abstract

Time:   5. June 2015
Place:   Institute of Physics
Title:   Covariant approach to quantum gravity (part 3)
Abstract:
The problem of quantization of gravity is one of the fundamental problems of modern theoretical physics. In the following three lectures we will describe the covariant method of quantization, based on the construction of the path integral for the gravitational field, and the spinfoam models emergent from the Loop Quantum Gravity program. The lectures are aimed at students, so the exposition of the material will be gradual, and we will assume only the most elementary knowledge of quantum field theory and general relativity.
The final, third lecture will be devoted to the notion of effective action. Effective action is a powerful tool for examining various properties of the quantum theory, especially nonperturbative effects. We will discuss the effective action first in quantum mechanics, then in quantum field theory, and finally in the context of state sum models of quantum gravity.