PHYS 650 - Perimeter Scholars International Explorations in Quantum Gravity

This course will introduce the students to the basic techniques and results of the field of loop quantum gravity. Possible topics include: 1) The Ashtekar variables and the Hamiltonian formalism; 2) The Plebanski action for general relativity; 3) The Hilbert space of loop quantum gravity and basic operators such as the area and volume operators; 4) Spin foam models; 5) Group field theory; 6) Quantum black hole horizons.