Date Thesis Awarded

5-2019

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Physics

Advisor

Joshua Erlich

Committee Members

Joshua Erlich

Seth Aubin

Chi-Kwong Li

Abstract

It has been proposed that gravity is not a fundamental force, but rather a force that emerges at long distances as a result of quantum phenomena. Recent work has attempted to combine the ideas of stochastic quantization and the quantum field theories in which gravity emerges at these distances. In this project, we extend previous work done on this subject and describe a model for stochastic quantization compatible with general relativity. Numerical simulations of these relativistic stochastic systems were created to test for certain quantum mechanical properties expected to arise from this description, and it was shown that classical equations of motion can accurately produce quantum mechanical behavior. A perturbation theory for field theories is under development to further strengthen the validity of the stochastic interpretation.

Recommended Citation

Mitchell, John, "Exploring Stochastic Quantum Mechanics and Emergent Gravity" (2019). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1338.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1338