Discreteness and the transmission of light from distant sources

TL;DR

This paper models light transmission from distant sources within a discrete spacetime framework called causal set, showing that classical predictions remain consistent with continuum models despite the underlying discreteness.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a discrete causal set structure can replicate classical light transmission without significant deviations from continuum predictions.

Findings

Predictions align with continuum models

Discreteness does not disrupt light propagation

Supports causal set approach as a viable spacetime model

Abstract

We model the classical transmission of a massless scalar field from a source to a detector on a background causal set. The predictions do not differ significantly from those of the continuum. Thus, introducing an intrinsic inexactitude to lengths and durations - or more specifically, replacing the Lorentzian manifold with an underlying discrete structure - need not disrupt the usual dynamics of propagation.