The Quantum Dynamics of Causal Sets: Directions and Challenges

          @misc{ scivideos_PIRSA:20070008,
            doi = {10.48660/20070008},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/20070008},
            author = {Surya, Sumati},
            keywords = {Cosmology, Particle Physics, Quantum Foundations, Quantum Gravity, Quantum Information},
            language = {en},
            title = {The Quantum Dynamics  of Causal Sets: Directions and Challenges},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics},
            year = {2020},
            month = {jul},
            note = {PIRSA:20070008 see, \url{https://scivideos.org/pirsa/20070008}}
          }
          

Abstract

I will begin with a short review of causal set theory (CST) focusing on the features that distinguish it from other approaches to quantum gravity. Most striking is a characteristic non-locality due to the Lorentz non-violating Poisson-discreteness in the continuum approximation. The discrete causal structure is rich enough, however, to extract local continuum geometric information, with geometric and topological observables corresponding to order-invariants in the causal set. These observables provide the necessary equipment in our search for a suitable quantum dynamics of causal sets. I will focus the rest of the talk on recent progress on this journey and the choices and challenges that lie ahead.