Moment Problems and the Causal Set Approach to Quantum Gravity

Abstract

We study a collection of discrete Markov chains related to the causal set approach to modeling discrete theories of quantum gravity. The transition probabilities of these chains satisfy a general covariance principle, a causality principle, and a renormalizability condition. The corresponding dynamics are completely determined by a sequence of nonnegative real coupling constants. Using techniques related to the classical moment problem, we give a complete description of any such sequence of coupling constants. We prove a representation theorem: every discrete theory of quantum gravity arising from causal set dynamics satisfying covariance, causality and renormalizability corresponds to a unique probability distribution function on the nonnegative real numbers, with the coupling constants defining the theory given by the moments of the distribution.