Speaker
Prof.
Chryssomalis Chryssomalakos
Description
Traditional geometry employs idealized concepts like that of a point or a curve, the
operational definition of which relies on the availability of classical point particles as
probes. Real, physical objects are quantum in nature though, leading us to consider
the implications of using realistic probes in defining an effective spacetime geometry.
As an example, we consider de Sitter spacetime and employ the centroid of various
composite probes to obtain its effective sectional curvature, which is found to depend
on the probe’s internal energy, spatial extension, and spin. Possible refinements of our
approach are pointed out and remarks are made on the relevance of our results to the
quest for a quantum theory of gravity.
