Discrete quantum gravity: a mechanism for selecting the value of fundamental constants

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum gravity mechanism where fundamental constants change randomly during black hole formation, supporting a universe selection process that favors constants maximizing black hole production.

Contribution

It introduces a discretized quantum gravity model demonstrating how physical constants can vary randomly at singularities, offering a potential explanation for their observed values.

Findings

Constants change randomly during tunneling through singularities

The model supports a universe selection mechanism based on black hole abundance

Provides a concrete quantum gravity calculation for constant variation

Abstract

Smolin has put forward the proposal that the universe fine tunes the values of its physical constants through a Darwinian selection process. Every time a black hole forms, a new universe is developed inside it that has different values for its physical constants from the ones in its progenitor. The most likely universe is the one which maximizes the number of black holes. Here we present a concrete quantum gravity calculation based on a recently proposed consistent discretization of the Einstein equations that shows that fundamental physical constants change in a random fashion when tunneling through a singularity.