Compactification, topology change and surgery theory

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/20/14/312MaRDI QIDQ4457673zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Sean A. Hartnoll

Publication date 25 March 2004

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0302072

zbMATH Keywords

quantum gravitytopology changecobordismsLorentzian approach

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of global differential geometry to the sciences (53C80) String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory (81T30) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45) Surgery and handlebodies (57R65) Other types of cobordism (57R90)

Abstract: We study the process of compactification as a topology change. It is shown how the mediating spacetime topology, or cobordism, may be simplified through surgery. Within the causal Lorentzian approach to quantum gravity, it is shown that any topology change in dimensions $geq5$ may be achieved via a causally continuous cobordism. This extends the known result for 4 dimensions. Therefore, there is no selection rule for compactification at the level of causal continuity. Theorems from surgery theory and handle theory are seen to be very relevant for understanding topology change in higher dimensions. Compactification via parallelisable cobordisms is particularly amenable to study with these tools.

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(4)

• Singular manifolds, topology change and the dynamics of compactification
• Gauge group and topology change
• Dark matter production by topology change
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1860604 (Why is no real title available?)

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