Table of Contents

1. Holonomies and the group of loops; 2. Loop coordinates and the extended group of loops; 3. The loop representation; 4. Maxwell theory; 5. Yang-Mills theories; 6. Lattice techniques; 7. Quantum gravity; 8. The loop representation of quantum theory; 9. Loop representation: further developments; 10. Knot theory and physical states of quantum gravity; 11. The extended loop representation of quantum gravity; 12. Conclusions: present status and outlook; References; Index.

Promotional Information

A self-contained introduction to applications of loop representations and knot theory in quantum gravity.

Reviews

"...the book is useful for an immersion in the subject, researchers working in the field, no doubt, will find it pleasant because of the precise natural style of the authors, who are pioneers and leaders in the field." Hugo A. Morales, Mathematical Reviews