Abstracts follow:

Testing the Manifold Properties of a Discrete Spacetime (Mr. Dan Kittell)

The attempt to bridge general relativity and quantum mechanics to form a single theory of quantum gravity has become perhaps the moost exciting area of research in contemporary physics.  One alternative to string theory is the proposition that spacetime is discrete with an inherent causal structure.  This alternative quantum gravity theory describes spacetime as an ordered group of elements: a causal set.  In order for a causal set to describe the fundamental structure of spacetime, it must possess the large-scale manifold properties that spacetime exhibits, such as dimension.  I have attempted to test some of the techniques used to measure the manifold dimesnion of causal sets in one dimension.
 

Paths in Discrete Spacetime: A numerical investigation of the Myrheim length conjecture (Mr. Greg Thompson)

General relativity and quantum mechanics are two of the most successful theories in physics.  However, the challenge of getting the two theories to agree with one another in a theory of quantum gravity has proved most difficult.  String theory and loop quantum gravity receive the most attention as possible quantum gravity theories.  The causal set hypothesis provides an alternative to these theories.  This hypothesis assumes that spacetme is discrete rather than continuous and that its underlying structure is a partially ordered set of points called a causal set.  Before a causal set can be said to represent a spacetime, it must be shown to have the same manifold properties that spacetime exhibits.  I will present a numerical investigation of the Myrheim length conjecture in 1+1 flat spacetime and discuss what I expect to find in future studies on higher-dimensional flat and curved spacetimes.

Noon, 339 Strong Hall.