Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Engle, Jonathan

Abstract

In this dissertation we study the dynamics of loop quantum gravity and its applications. We propose a tunneling phenomenon of a black hole-white hole transition and derive an amplitude for such transition using the spinfoam framework. We investigate a special class of kinematical states for loop quantum gravity - Bell spin networks - and show that their entanglement entropy obeys the area law. We develop a new spinfoam vertex amplitude that has the correct semi-classical limit. We then apply this new amplitude to calculate the graviton propagator and a cosmological transition amplitude. The results of these calculations show feasibility of computations with the new amplitude and its viability as a spinfoam model. Finally, we use physical principles to radically constrain ambiguities in the cosmological dynamics and derive unique Hamiltonian dynamics for Friedmann-Robertson-Walker and Bianchi I cosmologies.

Extent

235 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00013349

Format

pdf

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