Testing granular space

wolram

arXiv:0811.1229 (cross-list from gr-qc) [ps, pdf, other]
Title: Unambiguous Quantum Gravity Phenomenology Respecting Lorentz Symmetry
Authors: Yuri Bonder, Daniel Sudarsky
Comments: Based on a talk given at the 40th SMP: Geometry and Quanta
Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc); High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
We describe a refined version of a previous proposal for the exploration of quantum gravity phenomenology. Unlike the original scheme, the one presented here is free from sign ambiguities while it shares with the previous one the essential features. It focuses on effects that could be thought as arising from a fundamental granularity of quantum space-time. The sort of schemes we consider are in sharp contrast with the simplest scenarios in that such granularity is assumed to respect Lorentz Invariance but it remains otherwise unspecified. The proposal is fully observer covariant, it involves non-trivial couplings of curvature to matter fields and leads to a well defined phenomenology. We present the effective Hamiltonian which could be used to analyze concrete experimental situations, and we shortly review the degree to which this proposal is in line with the fundamental ideas behind the equivalence principle.

Way over my head, but i thought it might be interesting.

Chronos

Granular space is an appealing idea, but lacks observational support. It should fuzzy up [diffract] the images of exceedingly distant objects.

granpa

does that assume that the 'granules' form a regular crystal-like pattern? what if its more like an amorphous substance?