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Anomaly freedom has been one of the most important issues in canonical quantization of gravity. In a physically meaningful (anomaly free) theory, the constraint operators must be first class, and their commutator algebra is expected to resemble the corresponding classical Poisson-bracket algebra. In this paper, we review the "constructive" approach to obtaining a consistent set of constraints: start with a Hamiltonian constraint and generate the corresponding diffeomorphism constraint as a commutator of two Hamiltonians. Closure of the constraint operator algebra then requires that the diffeomorphism operator obtained in this way weakly commutes with another Hamiltonian constraint operator. The same procedure can be used to check the consistency of some proposed quantization schemes that present a candidate Hamiltonian constraint, which we do for a spherically symmetric model., Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure

We consider a long but finite (ladder) circuit with alternating connections of resistors in series and parallel and derive an explicit expression for its equivalent resistance as a function of the number of repeating blocks, $R_{\rm eq}(k)$. This expression provides an insight on some adjacent topics, such as continued fractions and a druncard's random walk in a street with a gutter. We also remark on a possible method of solving the non-linear recurrent relation between $R_{\rm eq}(k)$ and $R_{\rm eq}(k+1)$. The paper should be accessible to students familiar with the arithmetics of determinants., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures

While the standard (introductory physics) way of computing the equvalent resistance of non-trivial electrical ciruits is based on Kirchhoff's rules, there is a mathematically and conceptually simpler approach, called the method of nodal potentials, whose basic variables are the values of electric potential at the circuit's nodes. In this paper, we review the method of nodal potentials and illustrate it using the Wheatstone bridge as an example. At the end, we derive - in a closed form - the equivalent resistance of a generic circuit, which we apply to a few sample circuits. The final result unveils a curious interplay between electrical circuits, matrix algebra, and graph theory and its applications to computer science. The paper is written at a level accessible by undergraduate students who are familiar with matrix arithmetic. For the more inquisitive reader, additional proofs and technical details are provided in the appendix., Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures

This article lays out a complete framework for an effective theory of cosmological perturbations with corrections from canonical quantum gravity. Since several examples exist for quantum-gravity effects that change the structure of space-time, the classical perturbative treatment must be rethought carefully. The present discussion provides a unified picture of several previous works, together with new treatments of higher-order perturbations and the specification of initial states., Comment: 1+52 pages. v2: discussions extended and improved throughout the text, references added, typos corrected, conclusions unchanged

When a ball hits a surface, does the angle of reflection always equal the angle of incidence? Not at all! Depending on the interplay of the ball's spin and speed and the force of friction, the ball's behavior after the bounce may differ dramatically. Surely some experienced racquetball, ping-pong, pool, tennis and players alike take advantage of this fact. A physics teacher, in turn, can take advantage of the fact that by observing the bounce of a ball her students can determine the coefficient of friction between the ball and the floor. All it takes is a typical video (smartphone) camera and some standard software However, this seemingly straightforward method may lead to surprises. If one wants to double check the value of the coefficient of friction by observing the second, third etc. bounces, one may find the the force of friction "does not turn on". We investigate why this happens, state a hypothesis and run some testing experiments. Teachers who would like to include an illustration of the scientific cycle at work in their classes may find this paper useful., Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures

Quantum matter in quantum space-time is discussed using general properties of energy-conservation laws. As a rather radical conclusion, it is found that standard methods of differential geometry and quantum field theory on curved space-time are inapplicable in canonical quantum gravity, even at the level of effective equations., Comment: 17 pages, v2: further references and more detailed conclusions

As we typically teach in an introductory mechanics course, choosing a "good" reference frame with convenient axes may present a major simplification to a problem. Additionally, knowing some conserved quantities provides an extremely powerful problem-solving tool. While the former idea is typically discussed in the context of Newton's Laws, the latter starts with introducing conservation of energy even later. This work presents an elegant example of implementing both aforementioned ideas in the kinematical context, thus providing a "warm-up" introduction to the standard tools used later on in dynamics. Both the choice of the (non-orthogonal) reference frame and the conserved quantities are rather non-standard, yet at the same time quite intuitive to the problem at hand. Two such problems are discussed in detail with two alternative approaches. The first approach does not even require knowledge of calculus. In the appendix, I also present the brute-force solution involving a coupled system of differential equations. In addition, a few exercises and another similar problem for students' "homework" are provided at the end., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures

A consistent implementation of quantum gravity is expected to change the familiar notions of space, time and the propagation of matter in drastic ways. This will have consequences on very small scales, but also gives rise to correction terms in evolution equations of modes relevant for observations. In particular, the evolution of inhomogeneities in the very early universe should be affected. In this paper consistent evolution equations for gauge-invariant perturbations in the presence of inverse triad corrections of loop quantum gravity are derived. Some immediate effects are pointed out, for instance concerning conservation of power on large scales and non-adiabaticity. It is also emphasized that several critical corrections can only be seen to arise in a fully consistent treatment where the gauge freedom of canonical gravity is not fixed before implementing quantum corrections. In particular, metric modes must be allowed to be inhomogeneous: it is not consistent to assume only matter inhomogeneities on a quantum corrected homogeneous background geometry. In this way, stringent consistency conditions arise for possible quantization ambiguities which will eventually be further constrained observationally., Comment: 40 pages

A fully consistent linear perturbation theory for cosmology is derived in the presence of quantum corrections as they are suggested by properties of inverse volume operators in loop quantum gravity. The underlying constraints present a consistent deformation of the classical system, which shows that the discreteness in loop quantum gravity can be implemented in effective equations without spoiling space-time covariance. Nevertheless, non-trivial quantum corrections do arise in the constraint algebra. Since correction terms must appear in tightly controlled forms to avoid anomalies, detailed insights for the correct implementation of constraint operators can be gained. The procedures of this article thus provide a clear link between fundamental quantum gravity and phenomenology., Comment: 54 pages, no figures

Within a perturbative cosmological regime of loop quantum gravity corrections to effective constraints are computed. This takes into account all inhomogeneous degrees of freedom relevant for scalar metric modes around flat space and results in explicit expressions for modified coefficients and of higher order terms. It also illustrates the role of different scales determining the relative magnitude of corrections. Our results demonstrate that loop quantum gravity has the correct classical limit, at least in its sector of cosmological perturbations around flat space, in the sense of perturbative effective theory., Comment: 44 pages, 6 figures

Inhomogeneous cosmological perturbation equations are derived in loop quantum gravity, taking into account corrections in particular in gravitational parts. This provides a framework for calculating the evolution of modes in structure formation scenarios related to inflationary or bouncing models. Applications here are corrections to the Newton potential and to the evolution of large scale modes which imply non-conservation of curvature perturbations possibly noticeable in a running spectral index. These effects are sensitive to quantization procedures and test the characteristic behavior of correction terms derived from quantum gravity., Comment: 4 pages

Cosmological perturbation equations are derived systematically in a canonical scheme based on Ashtekar variables. A comparison with the covariant derivation and various subtleties in the calculation and choice of gauges are pointed out. Nevertheless, the treatment is more systematic when correction terms of canonical quantum gravity are to be included. This is done throughout the paper for one characteristic modification expected from loop quantum gravity., Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure

Non-minimal actions with matter represented by a scalar field coupled to gravity are considered in the context of a homogeneous and isotropic universe. The coupling is of the form $-\xi/2 \phi^2 R$. The possibility of successful inflation is investigated taking into account features of loop cosmology. For that end a conformal transformation is performed. That brings the theory into the standard minimally coupled form (Einstein frame) with some effective field and its potential. Both analytical and numerical estimates show that a negative coupling constant is preferable for successful inflation. Moreover, provided fixed initial conditions, larger $|\xi|$ leads to a greater number of {\em e}-folds. The latter is obtained for a reasonable range of initial conditions and the coupling parameter and indicates a possibility for successful inflation., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures

In this paper we review a model based on loop quantum cosmology that arises from a symmetry reduction of the self dual Plebanski action. In this formulation the symmetry reduction leads to a very simple Hamiltonian constraint that can be quantized explicitly in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. We investigate the phenomenological implications of this model in the semi-classical regime and compare those with the known results of the standard Loop Quantum Cosmology., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures