A new topology on space-time (Q4027896)

The problem of introducing a physically motivated topology on space-time is discussed. The author's construction unifies the advantages of the well-known topologies introduced by \textit{E. C. Zeeman} [Topology 6, 161- 170 (1967; Zbl 0149.412)], \textit{S. W. Hawking}, \textit{A. R. King} and \textit{P. J. McCarthy} [J. Math. Phys. 17, 174-181 (1976; Zbl 0319.54005)] and the Alexander topology. A basis of the topology \(\widetilde{\mathcal P}\) introduced by the author is given by the intersections of the Alexandrov double cones with the union of the chronological futures and pasts of their ``interior'' points \(q\), augmented by the one-point-sets \(\{q\}\). Hence this topology depends on the causal structure of the space-time only. Several interesting properties are shown for this construction. \(\widetilde{\mathcal P}\) coincides with the path topology of Hawking-King- McCarthy, iff the space-time is distinguishing, iff \(\widetilde{\mathcal P}\) satisfies the Hausdorff property. Furthermore \(\widetilde{\mathcal P}\) is \(T_ 1\) iff the chronology condition holds on the space-time \(M\). Chronological (and antichronological) bijections are \(\widetilde{\mathcal P}\)-homeomorphisms, and these sets are equal if the chronology condition holds on \(M\).