MARTIN BOJOWALD
Max-Planck-Institut f\”{u}r
Gravitationsphysik, Albert-Einstein-Institut, 14476 Potsdam,
Germany
E-mail: mabo@aei.mpg.de
Abstract. Aspects of the full theory of loop quantum gravity can be studied in a
simpler
context by reducing to symmetric models like
cosmological ones. This leads to several
applications where loop effects play a significant
role when one is sensitive to the quantum regime. As a consequence, the
structure of and the approach to classical singularities are very different
from general relativity. The quantum theory is free of singularities, and there
are new phenomenological scenarios for the evolution of the very early universe
such as inflation. We give an overview of the main effects, focussing on recent
results obtained by different groups.
Keywords. Quantum geometry; quantum cosmology; inflation.