Sep 20 – 25, 2026
University of Graz
Europe/Vienna timezone

Geodesics v.s. q-Desics: On the Motion in Quantum-Gravitational Background

Sep 24, 2026, 3:08 PM
12m
HS 11.03 (University of Graz)

HS 11.03

University of Graz

11 - Mathematics, ground floor
3) Contributed talk M38 - Astronomy and Astrophysics across Austria Mini-Colloquium

Speaker

Benjamin Koch

Description

We investigate the motion of test particles in quantum-gravitational backgrounds by introducing the concept of q–desics, quantum-corrected analogs of classical geodesics. Unlike standard approaches that rely solely on the expectation value of the spacetime metric, our formulation is based on the expectation value of quantum operators, such as the affine connection operator. This allows us to capture richer geometric information. We derive the q–desic equation using both Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods and apply it to spherically symmetric static backgrounds obtained from canonical quantum gravity. Exemplary results include lightlike radial motion and circular motion with quantum gravitational corrections far above the Planck scale. This framework provides a refined description of motion in quantum spacetimes and opens new directions for probing the interface between quantum gravity and classical general relativity.

Author

Benjamin Koch

Co-author

Ali Riahinia (TU Vienna)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.