| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R36572/01 |
| Title: |
Consistent Histories, Quantum Gravity and Topos Theory |
| Principal Investigator: |
Isham, Professor C |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 May 2001 |
Ends: |
30 April 2004 |
Value (£): |
160,974
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The primary objective is to obtain a new approach to quantum gravity in which spacetime concepts play a fundamental role. This will be achieved by developing the consistent-histories approach to quantum theory in such a way that it can be applied to a general relativity viewed from a spacetime context. A key ingredient will be to develop a scheme which includes the spacetime diffeomorphism group and the Dirac algebra of constraints in a single unified structure. Such a scheme would have wide ranging applications to the quantisation of a variety of other guage systems, including Yang-Mills theory and string theory.The other major, related, theme is to explore the potential role of topos theory; especially in the context of the consistent histories approach to quantum theory. This will include (i) exploiting the internal logic of the topos of sheafs in the real line; and (ii) exploring the possibility of applying the methods of synthetic differential geometry to this branch of theoretical physics.In the long term, we expect that any succesful theory of quantum gravity, including string theory, will require a substantial revision of quantum theory itself. We believe that the new ideas that will be generated by our proposed programme will lead naturally to such a scheme.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.imperial.ac.uk |