Summary of the Laws of Physics Derived from the Axioms of QGD

Below is a summary of the laws of physics that have been derived from the axiom set of 

Quantum-Geometry Dynamics.

The details of those derivations can be found in my book Quantum-Geometry Dynamics; an axiomatic approach to physics.

Beyond Entanglement? How QGD Explains Those Spooky Bell Test Correlations

Bell type experiments are famous for demonstrating seemingly impossible correlations between particles, often leading to talk of "spooky action at a distance" and non-locality. Standard quantum mechanics explains this through entanglement. But what if there's another way to look at it? Quantum-Geometry Dynamics (QGD) offers a totally different perspective, one that challenges some of our deepest assumptions about space, time, and reality.

QGD proposes that the correlations seen in Bell tests aren't a result of conventional quantum entanglement as currently understood, but rather instantaneous effects mediated by gravity. Yes, you read that right – instantaneous.

Here's the core idea:

• Instantaneous Gravitational Effects: Unlike the propagation of particles or non-gravitational interactions (like the absorption and emission of particles), which are limited by the speed of light (c), QGD suggests that gravitational interactions are instantaneous. They happen without mediating particles.
• Local Interactions, Instantaneous Influence: These instantaneous effects, according to QGD, arise from local interactions that are mediated through gravity. The influence of one so-called entangled particle on another occurs instantly via changes in their gravitational interaction . The strength of this influence depends on the distance between the particles in "quantum geometrical space".
• Re-evaluating Locality and Bell Tests: Bell's theorem highlights non-locality by demonstrating correlations that cannot be explained by local hidden variables if one assumes no faster-than-light interactions. QGD, by positing instantaneous gravitational interactions, offers a mechanism that is faster than light [i]. This leads QGD to question the interpretation of Bell test violations [i]. QGD suggests that these violations could potentially be attributed to instantaneous classical effects, like the gravitational interactions it describes, rather than being solely indicative of quantum mechanical entanglement. One key difference pointed out is that realism is preserved in QGD, allowing for simultaneous and certain measurement of conjugate properties, which is not the case in standard quantum mechanics.
• Describing the Mechanism: In a Bell experiment where a measurement on one particle affects another far away, QGD describes this non-local effect. It suggests that the influence on the distant particle stems from the change in the gravitational interaction of the measured particle, proportional to the momentum transferred during the measurement. This non-local effect's amplitude varies with the "quantum-geometrical distance" and the scale of the objects involved.
• Strict Causality: Despite the instantaneous nature of gravitational interactions, QGD maintains that reality is strictly causal, and all events are strictly causal.

From the QGD perspective, Bell tests, while groundbreaking, might be detecting the signature of fundamental, instantaneous gravitational interactions inherent to the structure of space, rather than exclusively proving the bizarre non-locality of quantum entanglement as traditionally understood [i]. It offers "something to think about" when considering the nature of reality and the phenomena observed in quantum experiments.

For detailed explanation see article On the Non-local effects of local events and the local effects of non-local events

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Unravelling the Quantum Universe: How Different Theories Tackle Gravity and Spacetime

Have you ever wondered what happens at the absolute smallest scales of the universe? We have two incredibly successful theories describing reality: General Relativity (GR) for the large-scale structure of gravity and spacetime, and Quantum Mechanics (QM) for the microscopic world of particles and forces. But they don't play well together, especially when gravity becomes extremely strong, like near the Big Bang or inside black holes, where Einstein's smooth, continuous picture of spacetime geometry seems to break down.

The quest to unify these two pillars of modern physics into a single theory of "quantum gravity" is one of the biggest challenges in physics today. It's like needing a whole new language to describe the quantum nature of geometry. Several theoretical frameworks are vying for this ultimate prize, each taking a unique approach.

Let's break down the differences between Quantum Geometry Dynamics (QGD), Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), and Causal Dynamical Triangulation (CDT).

These are all approaches attempting to tackle the significant challenge of unifying general relativity (GR) and quantum physics, often referred to as the problem of quantum gravity. However, they propose fundamentally different paths to achieve this.

Here's a look at each theory based on the provided sources:

Quantum-Geometry Dynamics (QGD)

QGD is presented as an axiomatic approach to physics. It aims to build the entire physical framework from a few fundamental postulates. This is framed as a response to Hilbert's call for axiomatizing physics.

• Core Axioms/Concepts:
  • Strict causality.
  • Fundamental particles called preons. Preons plus form matter and carry intrinsic kinetic energy and mass (defined as the number of preons plus). Preons minus make up space.
  • Discrete Space: Space is fundamentally discrete and granular, made of static preons (minus). Euclidean geometry is an emergent approximation at larger scales. The repulsion between prons minus is said to create quantum geometrical space itself.
  • Relational Time: Time is not fundamental but purely relational, defined by counting the recurrent states of periodic systems (clocks). This is proposed to sidestep the "problem of time" inherent in trying to combine QM and GR.
  • Fundamental Forces (p-gravity/n-gravity): Forces arise from preonic interactions. P-gravity is attractive between preons plus (matter). N-gravity is repulsive between preons minus (space).
  • Instantaneous Gravity: QGD proposes that gravitational interactions are instantaneous, directly changing the momentum of particles without delay. This is a major departure from relativity's speed limit (C).
  • Intrinsic vs. Metric Velocity: Distinguishes between a particle's frame-independent intrinsic velocity (momentum/mass) and the observer-dependent metric velocity (measured distance/time). The intrinsic velocity of light (photons, made of prons plus) is constant C.
• Key Predictions/Consequences:
  • One-Way Speed of Light: Predicts the measured one-way speed of light might not be constant or isotropic, potentially revealing absolute motion relative to the discrete space. This is a key, potentially testable difference from Special Relativity.
  • Gravity as Composite Effect: Gravity emerges from the combined effects of instantaneous pravity and nravity.
  • Repulsive Gravity: Predicts gravity becomes repulsive at large distances, potentially explaining dark energy.
  • Dark Matter: Explained as the gravitational pull of free prons plus (not bound into visible matter).
  • Alternative GW Interpretation: Signals detected by LIGO/Virgo are interpreted as intense electromagnetic or "preonic" disturbances traveling at c, rather than spacetime ripples.
  • Equivalence Principle: Predicts a potential violation of the strong equivalence principle, suggesting gravitational and non-gravitational acceleration might be subtly distinguishable.
  • Mass/Energy Relation: E=MC is a proportionality (E proportional to M), not an equivalence. Mass (preon(+) count) is distinct from energy (preon(+) kinetic energy). Nuclear reactions release bound preons(+) plus and their energy, not mass conversion.
  • Discrete Mathematics: Suggests reality might be fundamentally discrete and finite, implying continuous math is an approximation.

QGD is presented as challenging fundamental assumptions of both QM and GR (continuous spacetime, fundamental time, speed of light as universal limit/constant in all measurements, nature of gravity) and offering alternative, often particle-based, explanations for observed phenomena.

Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG)

LQG is described as a prominent candidate for quantum gravity that takes the core lesson of GR seriously: that gravity is geometry. It aims to be a background-independent quantization of general relativity. This means it does not assume a pre-existing spacetime metric.

• Core Ideas/Approach:
  • Reformulates GR using the language of gauge theories.
  • Quantizes this reformulated geometry using non-perturbative techniques. This avoids starting with quantum matter on a background geometry and perturbatively incorporating gravity.
  • Constructs a theory of quantum Riemannian geometry.
  • Discreteness Emerges: A key result is that space and time are found to be granular and discrete. This discreteness is seen as emerging naturally from the quantization process, unlike in some other approaches.
  • Quantum Loops/Spin Networks: The fundamental "building blocks" of space-time are described in terms of quantum loops, or more generally, spin networks, which are like intricate lattices or polymer-like structures. Diffeomorphism invariant physical states are labeled by knots.
  • Discrete Spectra: Operators corresponding to geometrical quantities like area and volume have discrete spectra. This is interpreted as meaning physical measurements of area/volume would yield quantized results.
  • Relational Dynamics: Quantum dynamics is described relationally, often using a matter field as an internal clock.
  • Singularity Resolution: In cosmology (Loop Quantum Cosmology - LQC), singularities like the big bang are resolved, often replaced by a big bounce.
  • Dynamics (Spinfoams/Hamiltonian): There are two main approaches to quantum dynamics, Hamiltonian constraint methods (related to Dirac's work) and spinfoams (extending path integrals). The dynamics is still being developed.
• Scope: LQG is described as being more focused than string theory, concentrating solely on the quantization of gravity, not aiming for a comprehensive theory of everything (TOE) that unifies all interactions. Matter is coupled to the theory.
• Challenges: A key challenge is the treatment of dynamics and connecting the theory to the classical limit (recovering GR at large scales). LQG, like string theory, currently lacks experimental evidence to validate its ideas.

Causal Dynamical Triangulation (CDT)

CDT is described as another background independent approach to quantum gravity. It is formulated as a non-perturbative lattice theory using triangulated spacetimes.

• Core Ideas/Approach:
  • Defines the quantum theory via a path integral, but instead of integrating over continuous geometries, it sums over discrete triangulations (simplicial manifolds). This discretization is a standard regularization technique used in Quantum Field Theory (QFT).
  • Causality Constraint: A crucial feature that distinguishes CDT from other dynamical triangulation approaches is the imposition of a causality condition. This is done by assuming a global proper-time foliation, which distinguishes between time-like and space-like links in the triangulation and prevents spacetime from breaking up into "baby universes".
  • Discreteness as Regularization: Unlike LQG where discreteness is seen as fundamental and emerging from quantization, in CDT the discreteness of the triangulations is put in by hand as a regularization. The goal is to take a continuum limit where this discretization is removed.
  • Emergence of Spacetime: The process attempts to show how the spacetime fabric itself evolves from the gluing of these discrete units. At large scales, CDT simulations show the emergence of the familiar 4-dimensional spacetime. Near the Planck scale, it suggests spacetime might be 2-dimensional and have a fractal structure.
  • Geometric Approach: CDT is described as a purely geometric approach. The distance or "interval" between points in a triangulation can be calculated exactly.
• Related Theories: CDT shares similarities with spin foam formulations of LQG, both using path integrals over discrete structures, but differs in degrees of freedom and Lagrangians. It is also closely related to causal sets, both modeling spacetime with a discrete causal structure, but CDT assumes a more specific relationship between the lattice and geometry. In the continuum limit, CDT might be related to Hořava–Lifshitz gravity due to the reliance on spacetime foliation.
• Challenges: Understanding the continuum limit remains a difficult task. Like LQG, CDT currently lacks experimental evidence. Due to numerical simulation requirements, it doesn't make sense to describe CDT with just a few simplices; typically hundreds of thousands or millions are used.

Key Differences Summarized:

Based on the sources, here are some primary differences:

1. Fundamental Approach:
   • QGD: Axiomatic, building physics from fundamental particles (preons) and their interactions, from which space and forces emerge.
   • LQG: Quantization of the geometry of General Relativity using non-perturbative gauge theory methods.
   • CDT: Path integral defined by summing over discrete, causally constrained triangulations of spacetime.
2. Nature of Discreteness:
   • QGD: Space is fundamentally discrete as a starting axiom.
   • LQG: Discreteness of space emerges from the quantization of geometry. The fundamental entities are quantum loops/spin networks representing quanta of geometry.
   • CDT: Discreteness (triangulation) is primarily a regularization technique for the path integral, intended to be removed in the continuum limit.
3. Treatment of Time:
   • QGD: Time is relational, not fundamental, defined by change.
   • LQG: Employs relational time for describing dynamics.
   • CDT: Uses a fixed proper-time foliation to enforce causality.
4. Mechanism of Gravity:
   • QGD: Gravity is a composite effect of instantaneous interactions (p-gravity and n-gravity) between fundamental particles (preons).
   • LQG: Gravity is a manifestation of the quantum nature of spacetime geometry.
   • CDT: Gravity arises from the geometric sum over allowed discrete spacetime configurations, leading to the emergence of macroscopic spacetime geometry.
5. Focus and Scope:
   • QGD: Aims to provide a complete alternative framework explaining matter, forces, and cosmology from basic axioms.
   • LQG: Primarily focused on the quantization of the gravitational field and spacetime geometry, not presented as a theory of everything.
   • CDT: Focuses on constructing spacetime via a geometric path integral approach.
6. Nature of Building Blocks:
   • QGD: Starts with fundamental particles (preons) and their interactions.
   • LQG: Fundamental entities are quanta of geometry represented by loops/spin networks.
   • CDT: Fundamental entities are simplices (triangular building blocks) that form the discrete spacetime approximations.
7. Experimental Predictions:
   • QGD: Proposes specific, potentially testable differences from relativity, such as anisotropy in the one-way speed of light, details about dark matter/energy, equivalence principle violation, and reinterpretation of gravitational waves.
   • LQG: Predicts discrete spectra for area/volume (difficult to test directly) and makes predictions for cosmology in LQC. Faces general challenges with direct experimental verification.
   • CDT: Predicts the emergence of 4D spacetime at large scales and 2D fractal structure at Planck scales. Also faces significant challenges with experimental verification.

In essence, QGD is an axiomatic, particle-based approach postulating fundamental discreteness and instantaneous interactions. LQG is a non-perturbative quantization of GR focusing on emergent discrete quantum geometry. CDT is a path integral approach using discrete, causally constrained geometric building blocks as a regularization. While all are background-independent approaches to quantum gravity, their starting points, fundamental concepts, and the way discreteness is handled are quite different.

 This episode of The Discrete Universe podcast, provides a summary of QGD's main ideas and concepts and their consequences.

Recent Cosmological Observations and QGD (audio podcast)

 

A Lopsided Universe? QGD and the Andromeda Satellite Problem

Distinguishing Quantum-Geometry Dynamics from Quantum Mechanics via Double-Slit Experiments