Space-time is four-dimensional (Q1060721)

The quantum state of the universe is described by Hartle and Hawking's ground state which is defined by a path integral over all compact metrics. The most probable classical evolution of the universe can be considered to come from some gravitational instanton by a quantum tunneling. These arguments have been generalized to the case of Kaluza- Klein models. It is found that in \(d=11\) simple supergravity, with a minisuperspace ansatz, all instantons must have a four dimensional sector. It suggests that this is the main reason why space-time is four- dimensional.