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Description: This volume contains selected peer-reviewed papers presented at the Fourth Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics, held from 15-18 September 2025, Albena, Bulgaria, and organized by the Minkowski Institute (Montreal). These meetings are becoming a preferred biennial forum for reporting research results in spacetime physics and fostering fruitful discussions among colleagues. The volume effectively conveys the diverse aspects of the foundations of spacetime physics—particularly those stemming from Minkowski's original vision—to the broader scientific community. In doing so, it showcases innovative approaches and groundbreaking theories that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
(CENTRA, Departamento de Física, Instituto Superior Técnico IST, Universidade de Lisboa): The Fourth Hermann Minkowski Meeting on the Foundations of Spacetime Physics took place from 15th to 18th of September, 2025, at Hotel Sandy Beach, located in the stunningly scenic Black Sea coast of Albena, Bulgaria. Immersed in the invigorating environment of the crystal blue sea, extensive golden beaches, and lush green hills, the participants presented and deliberated on multiple crucial aspects of the current understanding of the fundamental nature of spacetime and gravitational physics. The event culminated in an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaliakra on the last afternoon. The conference was attended by participants from multiple nations across North America, Europe, and Asia, making it a truly international event. They ranged from PhD students to postdoctoral researchers to emeritus professors. As such, the conference facilitated the organic intermingling and exchange of ideas and perspectives on the spacetime and gravitational physics across multiple cultures and academic roles. To optimize this free exchange, the conference organized multiple open discussion sessions in addition to the participants' individual presentations. This was only further catalyzed by the extremely relaxing and rejuvenating environment of the Albena coast, making the conference very much a success. In this volume, we present peer-reviewed articles for a selection of the works presented by the participants at the conference. The volume is divided into three parts. The first part examines the nature of Minkowski spacetime. The middle part delves into the quantum and emergent aspects of spacetime. The volume concludes by discussing the modeling and treatment of cosmological and astrophysical phenomena involving extreme spacetimes. It is thanks to Prof. Vesselin Petkov and the Minkowski Institute that both the highly enjoyable conference and this intriguing volume came to be.
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