Work

Why space could be quantised on a different scale to matter

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: The scale of quantum mechanical effects in matter is set by Planck’s constant, \hbar ℏ . This represents the quantisation scale for material objects. In this article, we present a simple argument why the quantisation scale for space, and hence for gravity, may not be equal to \hbar ℏ . Indeed, assuming a single quantisation scale for both matter and geometry leads to the `worst prediction in physics’, namely, the huge difference between the observed and predicted vacuum energies. Conversely, assuming a different quantum of action for geometry, \beta \ll \hbar β ≪ ℏ , allows us to recover the observed density of the Universe. Thus, by measuring its present-day expansion, we may in principle determine, empirically, the scale at which the geometric degrees of freedom should be quantised.

Source: SciPost Physics Proceedings

DOI: 10.21468/scipostphysproc.4.014

Author: Matthew J. Lake

Institutions: Sun Yat-sen University, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Babeș-Bolyai University, Chiang Mai University, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand

Language: English

Topic: Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, Chiang Mai University, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province

Award: G4136772534