The taming of closed time-like curves

DOI10.1088/1126-6708/2004/01/064zbMATH Open1243.83062arXivhep-th/0304241OpenAlexW3104117575MaRDI QIDQ438250FDOQ438250

Authors: Rahul Biswas, E. Keski-Vakkuri, Robert G. Leigh, Sean Nowling, Eric Sharpe 

Publication date: 30 July 2012

Published in: Journal of High Energy Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We consider a $R^{1,d}/Z_2$ orbifold, where $Z_2$ acts by time and space reversal, also known as the embedding space of the elliptic de Sitter space. The background has two potentially dangerous problems: time-nonorientability and the existence of closed time-like curves. We first show that closed causal curves disappear after a proper definition of the time function. We then consider the one-loop vacuum expectation value of the stress tensor. A naive QFT analysis yields a divergent result. We then analyze the stress tensor in bosonic string theory, and find the same result as if the target space would be just the Minkowski space $R^{1,d}$, suggesting a zero result for the superstring. This leads us to propose a proper reformulation of QFT, and recalculate the stress tensor. We find almost the same result as in Minkowski space, except for a potential divergence at the initial time slice of the orbifold, analogous to a spacelike Big Bang singularity. Finally, we argue that it is possible to define local S-matrices, even if the spacetime is globally time-nonorientable.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0304241

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum field theory on curved space or space-time backgrounds (81T20) String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory (81T30) String and superstring theories in gravitational theory (83E30)

Cites Work

• Holography and string dynamics in time-dependent backgrounds
• Brownian Motion of a Quantum Oscillator
• Spinning deformations of the D1-D5 system and a geometric resolution of closed timelike curves
• Supersymmetric Gödel Universes in string theory
• On the classical stability of orientifold cosmologies
• Spacelike singularities and string theory
• A judgement on sinors
• String field theory in curved spacetime and the resolution of spacelike singularities
• THE PRINCIPLE OF LOCALITY AND QUANTUM FIELD THEORY ON (NON GLOBALLY HYPERBOLIC) CURVED SPACETIMES

Cited In (7)

• Killing spectroscopy of closed timelike curves
• Unwrapping closed timelike curves
• Closed timelike curves in relativistic computation
• Hawking radiation and propagation of massive charged scalar field on a three-dimensional Gödel black hole
• Can branes travel beyond CTC horizon in Gödel universe?
• CAUSALLY PATHOLOGICAL SPACE–TIMES ARE PHYSICALLY RELEVANT
• Hagedorn transition and chronology protection in string theory

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