Gravitational Constants and the Effective Action in Curved Spaces.
Abstract
In this work we will address questions related to the computation of the effective action of a classical gravitational field and a system of quantized matter and radiation fields. The effective action is an extension of the classical action which incorporates quantum effects. Variation of the effective action generates the dynamics of the gravitational field and also that of the expectation values of the quantum fields. In special circumstances the effective action takes the form of the classical action but with space and time dependent 'constants'. In particular we will consider as quantum fields first a broken SU(5) Grand Unified Theory and then a pure non abelian gauge theory in the limit of large curvature. In this second case we will use Renormalization Group methods to give the limit form of the effective action in closed form. In the last section of this work (Chapter IV) we will consider a thought experiment which challenges the usual interpretation of the energy-time uncertainty relation. The issues raised by this experiment are closely related to the problem of the definition of particles in dynamical space-times.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985PhDT.......125C
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Elementary Particles and High Energy