Issues in Quantum Gravity

这项研究项目的主要部分解决了关于空间和时间性质的基本问题。这是许多研究人员分享的观点的一部分，他们正在建造结构，需要更多地了解我们宇宙的开始和黑洞中心的情况。一些研究人员认为，这些答案将导致许多其他的答案，并最终形成解释我们宇宙详细结构的完整的物理学理论。将调查与各种方法有关的一些具体技术问题。其中一些为所谓的量子引力的“圈方法”开发了数学工具。另一些则与我们的宇宙可能拥有超过我们所看到的三个空间和一个时间维度的可能性有关。例如，这个想法是被称为“弦理论”的方法的一部分。最后，一些研究使用物理定律来限制空间和时间扫描曲线和翘曲的方式。

The main portion of this research project addresses fundamentalquestions about the nature of space and time. It is part of a broadeffort shared by many researchers who are building the structures weneed to understand more about both the beginning of our universe and whathappens at the center of black holes. Some researchers believe thatthese answers will lead to many others, and eventually to a completetheory of physics that explains the detailed structure of ouruniverse. A number of specific technical questions will be investigated, relatingto various approaches. Some of these develop mathematical tools forthe so-called `loop approach' to quantum gravity. Others relate to thepossibility that our universe may have more than the three space andone time dimensions that we see. For example, this idea is part of theapproach known as `string theory.' Finally, some investigations usethe laws of physics to place constraints on the way that space and timecan curve and warp.