Pregeometric concepts on graphs and cellular networks as possible models of space-time at the Planck-scale

Starting from the working hypothesis that both physics and the correspondin g mathematics have to be described by means of discrete concepts on the Pla nck-scale, one of the many problems one has to face is to find the discrete protoforms of the building blocks of continuum physics and mathematics. In the following we embark on developing such concepts for irregular structur es like (large) graphs or networks which are intended to emulate (some of) the generic properties of the presumed combinatorial substratum from which continuum physics is assumed to emerge as a coarse grained and secondary mo del theory We briefly indicate how various concepts of discrete (functional ) analysis and geometry can be naturally constructed within this Framework, leaving a larger portion of the paper to the systematic developement of di mensional concepts and their properties, which may have a possible bearing on various branches of modern physics beyond quantum gravity. (C) 1999 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.