What is observable in classical and quantum gravity?
Open accessAbstract
The problem of the identification of the observable quantities in quantum gravity (or in any diffeomorphism invariant quantum theory) is considered. The author recalls Einstein's 'hole argument' on the impossibility of a priori identifying spacetime points. He argues that only by explicitly taking into account the physical nature of the bodies that form the reference system and their gravitational interactions one can get well defined gauge-invariant (and 'local') observables and a definition of physical spacetime points. A model is considered in which general relativity is coupled to matter: the matter represents the physical reference system. The gauge-invariant physical observables of this theory are displayed.
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Research works printed but not linked: 9
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- Authors
- Rovelli, C.
- Venue
- Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Published
- 1991-02-01
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 297-316
- ISSN
- 0264-9381 (ISSN-L)
- 1361-6382
- OpenAlex
- W2006620446
- Cited by
- 449
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 20.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Classical and Quantum Gravity (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Relativity and Gravitational Theory
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
- Keywords
- quantum gravity, observables, diffeomorphism invariance, hole argument, gauge invariance, reference systems, matter coupling, general relativity, physical observables
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