Do particles have non-zero volume, according to loop quantum gravity?

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yyoon@fas.harvard.edu - 07 Jan 2008 13:00 GMT

Is there any evidence that any particle has non-zero volume according
to loop quantum gravity?
I know that volume and area are discretely quantized when the matter
is not present, but wonder if the sizes of particles are also non-zero
and discrete. Which paper should I look at?

Youngsub

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Igor Khavkine - 08 Jan 2008 02:01 GMT

On Jan 7, 8:00 am, yy...@fas.harvard.edu wrote:

> Is there any evidence that any particle has non-zero volume according
> to loop quantum gravity?
> I know that volume and area are discretely quantized when the matter
> is not present, but wonder if the sizes of particles are also non-zero
> and discrete. Which paper should I look at?

You should remember that loop quantum gravity attempts to construct a
particular quantization of general relativity (+ matter, in some
proposals). So, all the observables of the quantum theory are the same
as the observables of the classical theory, only they become operators.
Can you construct a "volume of a particle" observable in whatever
combination of general relativity + matter you are considering?
Personally, I can't think of a good candidate for such an observable.

Hope this helps.

Igor

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Natural Science Forum / Physics / Research / January 2008

Do particles have non-zero volume, according to loop quantum gravity?