Abhay Ashtekar : Semi-Popular Articles

Imagine there is no space and time in the background; no canvas to paint the dynamics of the physical universe on. Imagine a play in which the stage joins the troupe of actors. Imagine a novel in which the book itself is a character...

Yes, one can still do physics without sacrificing any mathematical precision. In classical physics, Einstein taught us how to do this by weaving the gravitational field into the very fabric of space-time. In the resulting theory, general relativity, there is no background space-time, no inert arena, no spectators in the cosmic dance. Matter, through its gravity, tells space-time how to bend and curved space-time, in turn, tells matter how to move. However, classical physics is incomplete; it ignores the quantum world. Can we fuse the pristine, geometric world of Einstein's with quantum physics, without robbing it of its soul? Can we realize Einstein's vision at the quantum level?

Find out!

Articles aimed at general public interested in fundamental issues of physics and space-time structure:

• Space and Time: From Antiquity to Einstein and Beyond (PDF)
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  A semi-popular article addressed to undergraduates.
  From `Resonance', the outreach journal of the Indian Academy of Science, (with an additional figure).
  
  
• Quantum Nature of the Big Bang in Loop Quantum Cosmology (PDF)
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  Invited contribution to the session on Singularities of the 23rd Solvay Conference in Physics, held at Brussels in November-December 2005. A slightly expanded version of the article to appear in the Proceedings.
  
  
• Quantum Geometry and its Applications (PDF File)
  by Abhay Ashtekar and Jerzy Lewandowski
  From Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (Elsevier)
  
  
• Black Hole Mechanics (PDF File)
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  From Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (Elsevier)
  
  
• Gravity and the Quantum (PDF file)
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  From the special issue 'spacetime Hundred Years Later', edited by R. Price and J. Pullin, of the New Journal of Physics
  
  
• Space and Time: Einstein and Beyond
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  From the Penn State Science Journal, Vol 23 (2005).
  This is the first in a new series of featured articles.
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/people/Ashtekar/articles/space&time.pdf
  
  
• Rückkehr aus dem Schwarzen Loch
  (To the Black Hole and Back)
  by Rüdiger Vaas
  From the German publication Bild der Wissenschaft (June 2005)
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/people/Ashtekar/articles/Rueckkehr.pdf
  
  
• Der Herr Der Quanten (PDF file)
  Abhay Ashtekar's profile
  GEO, Special issue celebrating 100 years of relativity
  
  
• Gravity and the Quantum (PDF file)
  by Abhay Ashtekar
  From the special issue 'spacetime Hundred Years Later',
  edited by R. Price and J. Pullin, of the New Journal of Physics, http://www.iop.org
  
  
• Der Umgestulpte Urknall
  (The inverted Big-Ban)(PDF file)
  by Rüdiger Vaas
  From the German publication Bild der Wissenschaft (April 2004)
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/research/articles/derumg.pdf
  
  
• Das Duell: Strings Gegen Schleifen
  (The Duel: Strings versus Loops)(PDF File)
  by Rüdiger Vaas
  From the German Publication Bild der Wissenschaft (April 2004)
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/research/articles/dasduell.pdf
  
  
• Jenseits von Raum und Zeit (PDF file)
  (Beyond Space and Time) (PDF file)
  by Rüdiger Vaas
  From the German publication Bild der Wissenschaft (December 2003)
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/people/Ashtekar/articles/germanarticle.pdf
  
  
• Loop quantum gravity(PDF file)
  by Carlo Rovelli
  From Physics World (November 2003)
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/people/Ashtekar/articles/rovelli03.pdf
  
  
• Space and Time Beyond Einstein
  by Abhay Ashtekar and Jerzy Lewandowski
  From the Polish publication RZECZPOSPOLITA (April 2002)
  http://www.rzeczpospolita.pl/gazeta/wydanie_020416/nauka/nauka_a_4.html
  English Text Version
  
  
• Scientist at Work: Dr. Abhay Ashtekar
  by James Glanz
  New York Times, Sceince Section
  http://igpg.gravity.psu.edu/~ashtekar/nyt/abhay.html
  
  
• Beyond Space and Time   (PDF)
  by Robert Matthews
  New Scientist, No 2082 38-42
  
  
• The Quest for Quantum Gravity   (PDF)
  by Gary Au
  Current Science, vol 69, 499-518
  
  
• Loops of Space   (PDF)
  by Marcia Bartusiak
  Discover, vol 14, 60-68

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