02121nas a2200145   4500008004100000245007900041210006900120260001300189520164700202100002001849700002201869700002301891700002501914856003601939       2011                        en  d00aQuantum Geometry on Quantum Spacetime: Distance, Area and Volume Operators0 aQuantum Geometry on Quantum Spacetime Distance Area and Volume O  bSpringer3 aWe develop the first steps towards an analysis of geometry on the quantum\\r\\nspacetime proposed in Doplicher et al. (Commun Math Phys 172:187–220, 1995). The homogeneous elements of the universal differential algebra are naturally identified with operators living in tensor powers of Quantum Spacetime; this allows us to compute their spectra. In particular, we consider operators that can be interpreted as distances, areas, 3- and 4-volumes. The Minkowski distance operator between two independent events is shown to have pure Lebesgue spectrum with infinite multiplicity. The Euclidean distance operator is shown to have spectrum bounded below by a constant of the order of the Planck length. The corresponding statement is proved also for both the space-space and space-time area operators, as well as for the Euclidean length of the vector representing the 3-volume operators. However, the space 3-volume operator (the time component of that vector) is shown to have spectrum equal to the whole complex plane. All these operators are normal, while the distance operators are also selfadjoint. The Lorentz invariant spacetime volume operator, representing the 4- volume spanned by five\\r\\nindependent events, is shown to be normal. Its spectrum is pure point with a\\r\\nfinite distance (of the order of the fourth power of the Planck length) away\\r\\nfrom the origin. The mathematical formalism apt to these problems is developed and its relation to a general formulation of Gauge Theories on Quantum Spaces is outlined. As a byproduct, a Hodge Duality between the absolute differential and the Hochschild boundary is pointed out.1 aBahns, Dorothea1 aDoplicher, Sergio1 aFredenhagen, Klaus1 aPiacitelli, Gherardo  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/1963/5203