Twistor Theory

Roger Penrose's mathematical framework for describing spacetime using complex numbers and spinors — an alternative approach to quantum gravity based on the geometry of light rays.

Twistors: a reformulation of spacetime geometry in terms of spinors and complex numbers — light rays (null geodesics) rather than points as the primary geometric objects. Zero rest mass field equations become simpler in twistor space. The twistor program: the hope that quantum gravity could be formulated naturally in twistor geometry. The conformal properties of twistor theory make it particularly suited to massless particles and null rays. Influenced by Edward Witten into 'twistor string theory'.