A discourse on time, gravity, and the universe that takes the reader through the subtleties of time, the origin of the universe, and physical evolution in Einstein's theory and its extensions. Can time and causality remain fundamental when the classical ideal of spacetime becomes a concept of limited applicability in quantum gravity? A thorough exposition on the canonical framework of Einstein's theory and its extensions reveals the synergy between gravitation and the cosmic clock of our expanding universe that renders time concrete, physical, and comprehensible. In conjunction with a paradigm shift from four-covariance to just spatial diffeomorphism invariance, causal time-ordering of the quantum state of the universe and its evolution in cosmic time become meaningful. The quantum state of the universe is the embodiment of our shared past, present, and future. The advocated framework prompts natural extensions and improvements to Einstein's theory. A salient feature is the addition of a Cotton-York term to the physical Hamiltonian. Besides bringing improved ultraviolet convergence, this radically changes the solution to the initial data problem and the quantum origin of the universe. It lends support to the quantum beginning of the universe as an exact Chern-Simons Hartle-Hawking state that features Euclidean-Lorentzian instanton tunneling. A signature of this state is that it manifests, at the lowest order approximation, scale-invariant two-point correlation function for transverse-traceless quantum metric fluctuations. This initial quantum state also implies, at the level of expectation values, a low-entropy hot smooth Robertson-Walker beginning that is in accord with Penrose's Weyl Curvature Hypothesis. Consequently, the gravitational arrow of time of increasing spatial volume and the thermodynamic second law arrow of time of increasing entropy concur as our universe expands and ages.

This thoroughly revised 5th edition of Zeh's classic text investigates irreversible phenomena and their foundation in classical, quantum and cosmological settings. It includes new sections on the meaning of probabilities in a cosmological context, irreversible aspects of quantum computers, and various consequences of the expansion of the Universe. In particular, the book offers an analysis of the physical concept of time.

The ICGAC-12 aimed to serve as a common platform around the Asia-Pacific region for the exchange and communication among all researchers in the fields of gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology. The scope covered in the conference includes dark matter, dark energy, experimental study of gravity, black holes, quantum Yang-Mills gravity, GR extension, variation of constants, fundamental physics space projects, relativistic astrophysics, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and gamma ray bursts.

"The ICGAC-12 aimed to serve as a common platform around the Asia-Pacific region for the exchange and communication among all researchers in the fields of gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology. The scope covered in the conference includes dark matter, dark energy, experimental study of gravity, black holes, quantum Yang-Mills gravity, GR extension, variation of constants, fundamental physics space projects, relativistic astrophysics, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and gamma ray bursts."--Provided by publisher.

Topological GeometroDynamics is a modification of general relativity inspired by the conceptual problems related to the definitions of inertial and gravitational energy in general relativity. Topological geometrodynamics can be also seen as a generalization of super string models. Physical space-times are seen as four-dimensional surfaces in certain eight-dimensional space. The choice of this space is fixed by symmetries of the standard model so that geometrization of known classical fields and elementary particle quantum numbers results. The notion of many-sheeted space-time allows re-interpretation of the structures of perceived world in terms of macroscopic space-time topology. The generalization of the number concept based on fusion of real numbers and p-adic number fields implies a further generalization of the space-time concept allowing to identify space-time correlates of cognition and intentionality. Quantum measurement theory extended to a quantum theory of consciousness becomes an organic part of theory. A highly non-trivial prediction is the existence of a fractal hierarchy of copies of standard model physics with dark matter identified in terms of macroscopic quantum phases characterized by dynamical and quantized Planck constant. The book is a comprehensive overview and analysis of topological geometrodynamics as a mathematical and physical theory.

The past two decades have observed dramatic advancement in our understanding of the universe. Such progress in turn has triggered further questions yet to be answered. Aspired by such prospects, several institutions dedicated to the research of cosmology have been established in the last decade, which include the Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (LeCosPA) at the National Taiwan University. To celebrate its 4th anniversary the First LeCosPA Symposium was held in February 2012 at NTU. Internationally renowned physicists and authorities in cosmology, particle astrophysics, gravity and general relativity, and high energy physics convened to survey our present understanding of the universe and to explore the future prospects from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. Topics covered include the detection and the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the fundamental understanding of space, time, mass and gravity itself, cosmological constant and vacuum energy, etc. This book should be valuable to researchers and students in the field of cosmology and particle astrophysics.

This book offers a portrait of the research landscape of present-day fundamental theoretical physics. It presents contributions on particle theory, quantum field theory, general relativity, quantum gravity, string theory and cosmology. The book examines a way of communicating about methods, achievements and promises of the different approaches which shape the development of this field.