Six easy roads to the Planck scale
Ronald J. Adler
Abstract
Open-access reader
Ronald J. Adler
Abstract
Open-access reader
We give six arguments that the Planck scale should be viewed as a fundamental minimum or boundary for the classical concept of spacetime, beyond which quantum effects cannot be neglected and the basic nature of spacetime must be reconsidered. The arguments are elementary, heuristic, and plausible and as much as possible rely on only general principles of quantum theory and gravity theory. The main goal of the paper is to give physics students and nonspecialists an awareness and appreciation of the Planck scale and the role it should play in present and future theories of quantum spacetime and quantum gravity.
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We give six arguments that the Planck scale should be viewed as a fundamental minimum or boundary for the classical concept of spacetime, beyond which quantum effects cannot be neglected and the basic nature of spacetime must be reconsidered. The arguments are elementary, heuristic, and plausible and as much as possible rely on only general principles of quantum theory and gravity theory. The main goal of the paper is to give physics students and nonspecialists an awareness and appreciation of the Planck scale and the role it should play in present and future theories of quantum spacetime and quantum gravity.
Key concepts: Physics, Planck scale, Quantum gravity, Spacetime, Theoretical physics, Planck length, Planck, Loop quantum gravity