Quantum gravity : an oxymoron?

[alexsok]

"Quantum gravity": an oxymoron?

Just stumbled upon this paper while doing some lookarounds on quantum gravity:

http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0308042

The following words of the author induced quite a ruckus in my book:

I prove that “quantum” and “Einsteinian gravity” are in-
compatible concepts. Accordingly, the graviton is a mere object of scien-
ce fiction.

The current belief that below time T0, length L0, and mass M0 the Ein-
steinian theory of gravitation loses its validity is fully unfounded. Indeed,
its justification by means of a bold application of more or less sophisticated
quantum techniques does not possesses any sound basis. General relativity
has nothing to do with the classical field theories in Minkowski spacetime,
or in “rigid” Riemann-Einstein spacetimes.
Further, “there is no experiment that tells us that the quantization of
gravity is necessary” [1].
Finally, the fictive nature of the so-called gravitational waves [4] is suffi-
cient to render meaningless any quantization program of general relativity.

Seeing as his library of papers, spanning 18 papers, all deal in one way or another with the ongoing quantum gravity research, it's a bold claim from a blunt man, or so it seems.

 

[selfAdjoint]

So I scanned the paper at your link. He states (a) a lot of predjudices going back to Pauli about the metaphysical nature of time. and (b) recent astrophysical observations that have failed to find the "polymer" effects of quantized spacetime. We have discussed those results on these boards. So, my take, he's a troglodyte rattling his chain. If he's more than that, it'll take more than this paper to convince me.

 

[R0man]

Firstly, it is important to note that the author's paper is from 2003 and since then, there have been significant advancements in the field of quantum gravity. While there may still be debates and unanswered questions, it is not accurate to dismiss the concept of quantum gravity as an oxymoron.

The term "quantum gravity" refers to the attempt to unify the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics, which are currently the two pillars of modern physics. It is a challenging and complex task, but many scientists and researchers are actively working towards this goal.

The author's statement that "quantum" and "Einsteinian gravity" are incompatible concepts is not entirely accurate. While there may be some conflicts between the two theories, there are also areas where they complement each other. For example, the theory of loop quantum gravity uses concepts from both general relativity and quantum mechanics to explain the behavior of space and time at the smallest scales.

Furthermore, the author's claim that there is no experimental evidence for the quantization of gravity is also not entirely true. While there may not be direct evidence, there are several phenomena, such as black holes and the behavior of particles at the Planck scale, that suggest the need for a quantum theory of gravity.

It is also worth noting that the author's dismissal of gravitational waves as "fictive" is not a widely accepted view. In fact, the recent detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration provides strong evidence for the existence of these waves.

In conclusion, while there may be valid criticisms and debates surrounding the concept of quantum gravity, it is not accurate to dismiss it as an oxymoron. The ongoing research and advancements in this field show that it is a legitimate and important area of study in modern physics.