Statistical geometry and applications to microphysics and cosmology (Q1266247)

This book is devoted to the ideas and results on the stochastic nature of spacetime. The space and time are not considered as self-existing objects but as a network of relations among factual entities and their transformations. The concept of spacetime as a set of hazy lumps is promoted by the author. The mathematical properties of spacetime such as topological, affine, metrizability arise from the set of entities, elementary particles, fields, etc., and their changes. These considerations are motivated, among others, by recent results in high energy scattering and string theory. After a detailed historical survey, the author presents the results on the statistical behavior of microparticles, spacetime fluctuations and the nonlocal nature of fields. It is pointed out that the stochastic nature of spacetime can be revealed at ultra high energy interactions of elementary particles. As a consequence, the acceleration mechanism of cosmic ray particles is analyzed from the stochastic point of view. The Einstein equations for the gravitational field and the stochastic fluctuations of the metric tensor are also studied. Then, the origin of stochasticity is discussed and the possible implications of quantum fluctuations in physics are emphasized. The author presents an overall and integrated view of fluctuating or statistical geometry and the fundamental problems of different levels of understanding of microphysics and cosmology. The book is of interest to physicists, mathematicians and chemists interested in particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.