Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Scientific paper
1999-04-26
Gen.Rel.Grav.32:127-144,2000
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
17 pages LATEX, uses axodraw style file
Scientific paper
10.1023/A:1001852601248
We argue that quantum-gravitational fluctuations in the space-time background give the vacuum non-trivial optical properties that include diffusion and consequent uncertainties in the arrival times of photons, causing stochastic fluctuations in the velocity of light ``in vacuo''. Our proposal is motivated within a Liouville string formulation of quantum gravity that also suggests a frequency-dependent refractive index of the particle vacuum. We construct an explicit realization by treating photon propagation through quantum excitations of $D$-brane fluctuations in the space-time foam. These are described by higher-genus string effects, that lead to stochastic fluctuations in couplings, and hence in the velocity of light. We discuss the possibilities of constraining or measuring photon diffusion ``in vacuo'' via $\gamma$-ray observations of distant astrophysical sources.
Ellis John
Mavromatos Nick E.
Nanopoulos Dimitri V.
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