title: Extension of loop quantum gravity to f(R) theories.
abstract: The four-dimensional metric f(R) theories of gravity are cast into connection-dynamical formalism with real su(2) connections as configuration variables. Through this formalism, the classical metric f(R) theories are quantized by extending the loop quantization scheme of general relativity. Our results imply that the nonperturbative quantization procedure of loop quantum gravity is valid not only for general relativity but also for a rather general class of four-dimensional metric theories of gravity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. zhangxiangdong@mail.bnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yongge
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma