Stochastic congruence equations for spacetime fluctuations
Name
836762959-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
1.73 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
37ad4319504e49d49a9c8295f757d906
Author(s)
Speranza, Antony John
Advisor(s)
Sean P. Robinson.
Date Issued
2012
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This work considers some implications of viewing gravity as an emergent force. In such a viewpoint, general relativity arises as the thermodynamic limit of some microscopic theory. As such, one would expect the macroscopic variables such as the curvature tensors to fluctuate about their mean. This thesis presents a method for analyzing the effects of curvature fluctuations on spacetime thermodynamics. This is done by examining the evolution equations for time-like and null congruences, and recasting them as stochastic differential equations. The purpose of viewing the congruence evolution equations as stochastic is in the spirit of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and may lead to an application of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem to spacetime. It is expected that this reformulation of the congruence equations will lead to further insights on the effects of fluctuations in general relativity.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
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