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The mathematics of causal sets

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Recent Trends in Combinatorics

Part of the book series: The IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications ((IMA,volume 159))

Abstract

The causal set approach to quantum gravity is based on the hypothesis that the underlying structure of spacetime is that of a random partial order. We survey some of the interesting mathematics that has arisen in connection with the causal set hypothesis, and describe how the mathematical theory can be translated to the application area. We highlight a number of open problems of interest to those working in causal set theory.

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Acknowledgements

Malwina Luczak’s research was supported by an EPSRC Leadership Fellowship, grant reference EP/J004022/2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK

    Graham Brightwell

  2. School of Mathematics, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Malwina Luczak

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  1. Graham Brightwell
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  2. Malwina Luczak
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Correspondence to Graham Brightwell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Math, Statistics & Comp.Sc, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

    Andrew Beveridge

  2. Dept. of Mathematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    Jerrold R. Griggs

  3. Dept. of Mathematics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA

    Leslie Hogben

  4. School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Gregg Musiker

  5. School of Mathematics & Computer Sc, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Prasad Tetali

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Brightwell, G., Luczak, M. (2016). The mathematics of causal sets. In: Beveridge, A., Griggs, J., Hogben, L., Musiker, G., Tetali, P. (eds) Recent Trends in Combinatorics. The IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications, vol 159. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24298-9_15

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