Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 521–524 (1987)Space-time as a causal setReceived 8 April 1987; published in the issue dated 3 August 1987 We propose that space-time at the smallest scales is in reality a causal set: a locally finite set of elements endowed with a partial order corresponding to the macroscopic relation that defines past and future. We explore how a Lorentzian manifold can approximate a causal set, noting in particular that the thereby defined effective dimensionality of a given causal set can vary with length scale. Finally, we speculate briefly on the quantum dynamics of causal sets, indicating why an appropriate choice of action can reproduce general relativity in the classical limit. © 1987 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.521
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.521
PACS:
04.60.+n
See AlsoComment: Cristopher Moore, Comment on ‘‘Space-time as a causal set’’, Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 655 (1988). |
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