Background independent condensed matter models for quantum gravity

Understand

A number of recent proposals for a quantum theory of gravity are based on the idea that spacetime geometry and gravity are derivative concepts and only apply at an approximate level.

• There are two fundamental challenges to any such approach.
• At the conceptual level, there is a clash between the "timelessness" of general relativity and emergence.
• Second, the lack of a fundamental spacetime makes difficult the straightforward application of well-known methods of statistical physics to the problem.