2021/10/11 by Timothy D. Andersen, Andersen, Timothy D.
Physics and Astronomy · #81S20 #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #gr-qc #msc:81S20 #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2110.05180
arxiv created 2021/10/11 · arxiv updated 2021/10/12
How to quantize gravity is a major outstanding open question in quantum physics. While many approaches assume Einstein's theory is an effective low-energy theory, another possibility is that standard methods of quantization are the problem. In this paper, I analyze a quantization mechanism based on chaotic dynamics of 5D general relativity (with imaginary time) with BKL dynamics in the mixmaster universe as an example. I propose that the randomness of quantum mechanics as well as its other properties such as nonlocality derive from chaotic flow of 4D spacetime through a 5th dimension, with the metric tensor under Wick rotation to Euclidean space acting as a heat bath for other quantum fields. This is done by showing that the theory meets mixing conditions such that it is chaotically self-quantizing and quantizes other fields to which it is coupled, such that in the limit taking chaotic dynamics scale to zero the quantization is equivalent to a stochastic quantization. A classical stability analysis shows this dimension is likely spacelike.