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Introduction to causal sets and their phenomenology

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Abstract

In this introduction to the causal set approach to the problem of quantum gravity, I emphasise that causal sets are both fundamentally discrete and Lorentz invariant, which makes them nonlocal. I focus on opportunities for phenomenology arising from and stimulated by causal sets.

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Notes

  1. A strongly causal spacetime is one in which the local causal order in a convex normal neighbourhood is the restriction of the global causal order to the neighbourhood. A past and future distinguishing spacetime is one in which distinct points have distinct chronological pasts and futures.

  2. This representation of the causet is called a Hasse diagram.

    Fig. 1
    figure 1

    The Hasse diagram of a causet generated by sprinkling into \(1+1\) dimensional Minkowski spacetime. The elements are the black dots and the blue edges are the links or nearest neighbour relations

    Full size image

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  1. Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Fay Dowker

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Dowker, F. Introduction to causal sets and their phenomenology. Gen Relativ Gravit 45, 1651–1667 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-013-1569-y

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