Quantum evolution in spacetime foam

Abstract

In this work, I review some aspects concerning the evolution of quantum low-energy fields in a foamlike spacetime, with involved topology at the Planck scale but with a smooth metric structure at large length scales, as follows. Quantum gravitational fluctuations may induce a minimum length thus introducing an additional source of uncertainty in physics. The existence of this resolution limit casts doubts on the metric structure of spacetime at the Planck scale and opens a doorway to nontrivial topologies, which may dominate Planck scale physics. This foamlike structure of spacetime may show up in low-energy physics through loss of quantum coherence and mode-dependent energy shifts, for instance, which might be observable. Spacetime foam introduces nonlocal interactions that can be modeled by a quantum bath, and low-energy fields evolve according to a master equation that displays such effects. Similar laws are also obtained for quantum mechanical systems evolving according to good real clocks, although the underlying Hamiltonian structure in this case establishes serious differences among both scenarios. Contents.--- Quantum fluctuations of the gravitational field; Spacetime foam; Loss of quantum coherence; Quantum bath; Low-energy effective evolution; Real clocks; Conclusions.