Emergence of Discrete Spacetime Structure from Quantum Network Dynamics

We explore a hypothesis in which a low-energy, approximately continuous spacetime description
emerges from quantum dynamics on an underlying discrete network. Starting from an abstract
graph with finite-dimensional quantum degrees of freedom on vertices and edges, we outline conditions
under which correlation and entanglement patterns can support effective notions of distance,
locality, and smooth geometry. We further discuss how gauge symmetries underlying the Standard
Model—SU(3)c × SU(2)L × U(1)Y —may be interpreted as arising from internal structure
and connectivity properties of the network. A characteristic discreteness scale ΛN = O
(
102 GeV
)
is introduced to parameterize leading departures from continuum field theory. The proximity of
ΛN to the electroweak scale suggests a deep structural connection. We discuss potential observable
signatures and outline connections to phenomenological applications developed in companion
papers.