Holographic Quantum Foam

Abstract Quantum fluctuations can endow spacetime with a foamy structure. The three different methods we have employed to calculate the magnitude of the foaminess yield the same result and all agree with what the holographic principle dictates and hence the name “holographic quantum foam” (HQF). HQF is shown to yield a cosmology (which we call holographic foam cosmology) with an effective dynamical cosmological constant and critical energy density the quanta of which obey an exotic statistics known as infinite statistics (or quantum Boltzmann statistics). We also show that, in the gravitational context, the properties of HQF are intimately related to the phenomenon of turbulence. And we interpret inflation in the early universe as due to the onset of turbulence with the graceful exit problem being naturally solved by the fact that the quanta of HQF obey infinite statistics. Finally we discuss methods to detect HQF, among which are the use of laser interferometers and the observation of high-energy photons from extragalactic sources. We also briefly discuss, in the context of HQF, dark matter the quanta of which also obey infinite statistics.