Is it time to rethink quantum gravity?
Abstract
Although it's widely believed that gravity should have a quantum nature like every other force, the conceptual obstacles to constructing a quantum theory of gravity compel us to explore other perspectives. Gravity is not like any other force. It alone defines a universal space-time geometry, upon which quantum fields evolve. We feel gravity because matter causes space-time to bend. Time flows at unequal rates at different locations. The rate at which time flows, and the causal structure it provides, may be required to have a classical description in order for quantum theory to be well-formulated. I discuss arguments for this proposition, but ultimately conclude that we must turn to experiment to guide us.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2310.12221,
title = {Is it time to rethink quantum gravity?},
author = {Jonathan Oppenheim},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.12221},
year = {2024}
}
Comments
Honourable Mention in the Gravity Research Foundation 2023 Awards for Essays on Gravitation