Simulations of Discrete Quantized Gravity

Abstract

According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, the geometric properties of space are related to the distri bution of matter and energy in the universe. In a quan tum-mechanical theory of gravitation the geometry of space and time is subject to strong fluctuations at ex tremely short distances. Traditional methods, based on perturbation theory, have difficulties in dealing with these highly nonlinear fluctuations. Discretized models for quantum gravity introduce a fine space-time mesh, and attempt to solve the fundamental equations using large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. We discuss some preliminary results obtained by applying these meth ods to a model for pure quantum gravity involving up to 983,040 edges in a four-dimensional lattice. A nu merical solution to these equations could provide an answer to some basic cosmological questions.

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