The Minkowski vacuum of stochastic composite gravity.

We present a first analysis of a nonperturbative approach to quantum gravity based on a representation of quantum field theory in terms of stochastic processes. The stochastic description accommodates a physical Lorentz-invariant ultraviolet regulator that provides a novel description of physics at ultra-short distances. In a scalar toy model, we demonstrate the evolution of a generic initial field configuration toward an equilibrium in which the composite spacetime metric fluctuates about a flat spacetime. As a diffeomorphism-invariant theory with locally Lorentz-invariant regulator, fluctuations about the vacuum are expected to give rise to an emergent gravitational interaction consistent with Einstein gravity at long distances. We uncover a formal similarity between regularization by stochastic discreteness and point-splitting regularization in the corresponding quantum field theory. We comment on the signature of the emergent spacetime, possible consequences for the early universe, and the potential for observational and experimental tests of the stochastic origin of quantum field theory and gravitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]