Pregeometric Spaces from Wolfram Model Rewriting Systems as Homotopy Types (2111.03460v2)

Abstract: How do spaces emerge from pregeometric discrete building blocks governed by computational rules? To address this, we investigate non-deterministic rewriting systems (multiway systems) of the Wolfram model. We express these rewriting systems as homotopy types. Using this new formulation, we outline how spatial structures can be functorially inherited from pregeometric type-theoretic constructions. We show how higher homotopy types are constructed from rewriting rules. These correspond to morphisms of an $n$-fold category. Subsequently, the $n \to \infty$ limit of the Wolfram model rulial multiway system is identified as an $\infty$-groupoid, with the latter being relevant given Grothendieck's homotopy hypothesis. We then go on to show how this construction extends to the classifying space of rulial multiway systems, which forms a multiverse of multiway systems and carries the formal structure of an ${\left(\infty, 1\right)}$-topos. This correspondence to higher categorical structures offers a new way to understand how spaces relevant to physics may arise from pregeometric combinatorial models. A key issue we have addressed here is to relate abstract non-deterministic rewriting systems to higher homotopy spaces. A consequence of constructing spaces and geometry synthetically is that it eliminates ad hoc assumptions about geometric attributes of a model such as an a priori background or pre-assigned geometric data. Instead, geometry is inherited functorially by higher structures. This is relevant for formally justifying different choices of underlying spacetime discretization adopted by models of quantum gravity. We conclude with comments on how our framework of higher category-theoretic combinatorial constructions, corroborates with other approaches investigating higher categorical structures relevant to the foundations of physics.

• The paper demonstrates how multiway rewriting systems can be expressed as homotopy types, bridging discrete computational methods with continuous geometric structures.
• It outlines a methodology where higher rewriting rules yield an ∞-groupoid, offering a practical approach to model topological features in quantum gravity.
• The work embeds pregeometric spaces within an ∞-topos, providing a unified framework that connects combinatorial models with formal quantum and topological field theories.

Pregeometric Spaces from Wolfram Model Rewriting Systems as Homotopy Types

This paper introduces an innovative framework for understanding the emergence of spatial structures from pregeometric building blocks through non-deterministic rewriting systems as described via the Wolfram model. The authors, Arsiwalla and Gorard, conceptualize these multiway rewriting systems as homotopy types, offering an important bridge between discrete, computational constructions and formal homotopy spaces. This synthesis is especially relevant for models of quantum gravity, which demand an understanding of space and geometry devoid of a continuum backdrop.

Summary of Contributions

• Homotopy Types in Multiway Systems: At the core of the paper is the expression of multiway rewriting systems as homotopy types, thus permitting the invocation of higher homotopies within these systems. By augmenting these systems with additional rewriting rules, higher homotopies manifest as morphisms in an $n$-fold category. The authors demonstrate that the $n \to \infty$ limit of such systems aligns with the structure of an $\infty$-groupoid.
• Practical Formulation of Pregeometric Spaces: A principal contribution lies in providing a framework that eschews preassigned geometric data. Instead, spatial structures are functorially inherited from higher categorical forms, highlighting how pregeometric combinatorial constructions give rise to spaces with geometric and topological properties.
• Formalization and Embedding in an $\infty$-Topos: The paper extends the framework into the domain of $\infty$-toposes, showing how these synthetic spaces can be housed within such higher toposes. The limiting rulial multiway system is shown to embody an $\left(\infty, 1\right)$-topos, thus providing a new perspective on the emergence of space within physics from a category-theoretic vantage.
• Relation to Quantum Processes and Topological Spaces: By embedding multiway systems within homotopy type theory, the work aligns closely with approaches found in categorical quantum mechanics, offering pathways to formalizing topological quantum field theories. The paper implicitly suggests that spatial structures critical to foundational physics can be understood through this combinatorial model, advancing the unifying framework for different methodologies within quantum gravity.

Theoretical and Practical Implications

The theoretical implications of this work are significant given that it integrates computationally derived structures with homotopy theories, thereby suggesting the emergence of topology and geometry from purely discrete structures—an essential avenue for quantum gravity research. Practically, the model provides a generalized method for justifying space-time discretization schemes across various models of quantum gravity by leveraging pregeometric combinatorial structures.

Future Directions

The paper opens numerous research avenues, notably in refining the relationship between $\infty$-groupoids and physical space in quantum theories. Additionally, applying this framework to investigate measurements and observer roles within synthetically-derived spaces could yield breakthroughs in understanding quantum measurement through computational models. Further exploration into potential cohesive structures within $\infty$-toposes also promises to deepen insights into the manifestation of geometric and topological spaces from computational foundations.

In summary, Arsiwalla and Gorard's work is a pivotal step in reimagining the foundations of geometry and space using the language of homotopy type theory and higher categories, offering profound paths for future exploration in both theoretical physics and formal computational systems.