Introduction to Loop Quantum Gravity and Spin Foams

These notes are a didactic overview of the non perturbative and background independent approach to a quantum theory of gravity known as loop quantum gravity. The definition of real connection variables for general relativity, used as a starting point in the program, is described in a simple manner. The main ideas leading to the definition of the quantum theory are naturally introduced and the basic mathematics involved is described. The main predictions of the theory such as the discovery of Planck scale discreteness of geometry and the computation of black hole entropy are reviewed. The quantization and solution of the constraints is explained by drawing analogies with simpler systems. Difficulties associated with the quantization of the scalar constraint are discussed. In a second part of the notes, the basic ideas behind the spin foam approach are presented in detail for the simple solvable case of 2+1 gravity. Some results and ideas for four dimensional spin foams are reviewed.