Directions in Causal Set Quantum Gravity
Abstract
In the causal set approach to quantum gravity the spacetime continuum arises as an approximation to a fundamentally discrete substructure, the causal set, which is a locally finite partially ordered set. The causal set paradigm was elucidated in a classic paper by Bombelli, Lee, Meyer and Sorkin in 1987. While early kinematical results already showed promise, the program received a substantial impetus about a decade ago with the work of Rideout and Sorkin on a classical stochastic growth dynamics for causal sets. Considerable progress has been made ever since in our understanding of causal set theory while leaving undisturbed the basic paradigm. Recent highlights include a causal set expression for the Einstein-Hilbert action and the construction of a scalar field Feynman propagator on a fixed causal set. The aim of the present article is to give a broad overview of the results in causal set theory while pointing out directions for future investigations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1103.6272,
title = {Directions in Causal Set Quantum Gravity},
author = {Sumati Surya},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1103.6272},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
31 pages, 7 figures, To appear in Recent Research in Quantum Gravity, edited by A. Dasgupta (Nova Science Publishers NY)