Stress tensor fluctuations and stochastic spacetimes (Q1596204)

The problem of the quantum fluctuations of the stress tensor for a matter field is investigated. It is shown that the stress tensor correlation function can be decomposed into three parts. The first one is finite and state dependent, the second is infinite in the coincidence limit but state independent and the third is a cross term which is both state dependent and infinite in the coincidence limit. The fluctuations of the spacetime geometry induced by the fluctuations of the stress tensor are also studied. It is concluded that the singular terms produce drastic fluctuations of the geometry, leading to a stochastic spacetime.