Classical space-time as Rydberg states of underlying quantum geometries

Abstract

Classical macroscopic space-time is pictured in terms of Rydberg states of an underlying discritzed `atomic' quantum geometry at Planck scales. While quantum geometry on such scales involves several very short lived transitions changing curvature and topologies, the Rydberg states have very long lifetimes, going as a high power of the quantum number n. This means space-time on macroscopic scales are almost infinitely stable. The large degeneracy in the Rydberg levels, with high n, can also account for a large black hole entropy, as well as long lifetime of massive black holes to quantum decays. We have a possible promising paradigm to link quantum geometry at Planck scales, to classical space-time.