Welcome to the Machine

[Juvenal]

Is the Universe a Simulation?

What kinds of things are mathematical entities and theorems, that they are knowable in this way? Do they exist somewhere, a set of immaterial objects in the enchanted gardens of the Platonic world, waiting to be discovered? Or are they mere creations of the human mind?

Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation

Observable consequences of the hypothesis that the observed universe is a numerical simulation performed on a cubic space-time lattice or grid are explored. The simulation scenario is first motivated by extrapolating current trends in computational resource requirements for lattice QCD into the future. Using the historical development of lattice gauge theory technology as a guide, we assume that our universe is an early numerical simulation with unimproved Wilson fermion discretization and investigate potentially-observable consequences. Among the observables that are considered are the muon g-2 and the current differences between determinations of alpha, but the most stringent bound on the inverse lattice spacing of the universe, b^(-1) >~ 10^(11) GeV, is derived from the high-energy cut off of the cosmic ray spectrum. The numerical simulation scenario could reveal itself in the distributions of the highest energy cosmic rays exhibiting a degree of rotational symmetry breaking that reflects the structure of the underlying lattice.

I'm posting this thread in Nat. Sci. to capture an audience more likely to read and follow the paper (PDF)

[seer]

On the femto-scale, lattice QCD allows us, as humans, to answer the age-old retort of Creationists asking us to duplicate creation by "getting our own dirt."

As ever, Jesse

From your link:

Why don't we just admit that this advanced computer programmer is God? And what else this programmer may be, it/he would be God or a god to us... Then how far are we from Berkeley's Idealism where reality consists of ideas in the mind of God? Perhaps a simulation in the mind of God?

[Roy]

Why don't we just admit that this advanced computer programmer is God?

We aren't brain dead.

Feel free to disagree,

Roy

[shunyadragon]

Is the Universe a Simulation?

What kinds of things are mathematical entities and theorems, that they are knowable in this way? Do they exist somewhere, a set of immaterial objects in the enchanted gardens of the Platonic world, waiting to be discovered? Or are they mere creations of the human mind?

Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation

Observable consequences of the hypothesis that the observed universe is a numerical simulation performed on a cubic space-time lattice or grid are explored. The simulation scenario is first motivated by extrapolating current trends in computational resource requirements for lattice QCD into the future. Using the historical development of lattice gauge theory technology as a guide, we assume that our universe is an early numerical simulation with unimproved Wilson fermion discretization and investigate potentially-observable consequences. Among the observables that are considered are the muon g-2 and the current differences between determinations of alpha, but the most stringent bound on the inverse lattice spacing of the universe, b^(-1) >~ 10^(11) GeV, is derived from the high-energy cut off of the cosmic ray spectrum. The numerical simulation scenario could reveal itself in the distributions of the highest energy cosmic rays exhibiting a degree of rotational symmetry breaking that reflects the structure of the underlying lattice.

I'm posting this thread in Nat. Sci. to capture an audience more likely to read and follow the paper (PDF)

I prefer . . . Observable consequences of the hypothesis that the observed universe [Maybe be modeled as] a numerical simulation performed on a cubic space-time lattice or grid are explored. The simulation scenario is first motivated by extrapolating current trends in computational resource requirements for lattice QCD into the future.

Our observed, and by the way unobserved universe, is modeled based on hypothesis and theories from the human perspective based on present knowledge. You may call this being 'picky' in semantics, but I believe it is an important point. It is a word of caution that it is unwarranted to conclude the 'observed universe is . . .'

When we model our universe with computers it may look like a computer

Looking forward to following this thread.

What do we know?
following foot prints in the snow
we should in humility know
they are our foot prints in the snow
Here today and gone tomorrow.