Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/C517687/1
Title:	Decoherent Histories Approach To Loop Quantum Gravity and Quantum Cosmology
Principal Investigator:	Halliwell, Professor J
Other Investigators:	Isham, Professor C
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics
Organisation:	Imperial College London
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 March 2005	Ends:	31 August 2008	Value (£):	203,081
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Mathematical Physics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
In the physical description of nature, physicists have developed a number of different theories to describe the behaviour of matter and forces in a variety of different regimes. Quantum theory describes the behaviour of matter on very small scales. General relativity, Einsteins theory of gravity, describes the gravitational force between very large objects on large scales, up to and including the scale of the whole universe. Although these two theories are both extremely successful in the regimes where they apply, physicists feel compelled to find another, better theory that unifies these two theories into one. That is, they want a single theory that will apply to both the extremely large scales and the extremely small. Such a theory would be called a quantum theory of gravity, and is expected to be important at the very extreme conditions encountered at the very beginning of the universe, or at the singularity thought to exist at the centre of black holes. General relativity is known to break down in these situations so this is clear evidence that some sort of new theory of gravity involving quantum effects, is required.The work we propose to do here involves taking steps towards the construction of a quantum theory of gravity. The possible outcome of the work is a new understanding of the beginning of the universe or of the eventual fate of matter that disappears into a black hole.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.imperial.ac.uk