Signature change events: a challenge for quantum gravity?

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/27/4/045007MaRDI QIDQ5305372zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Angela White, Silke Weinfurtner, Matt Visser

Publication date 22 March 2010

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

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0812.3744

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Path integrals in quantum mechanics (81S40) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45)

Abstract: Within the framework of either Euclidian (functional-integral) quantum gravity or canonical general relativity the signature of the manifold is a priori unconstrained. Furthermore, recent developments in the emergent spacetime programme have led to a physically feasible implementation of signature change events. This suggests that it is time to revisit the sometimes controversial topic of signature change in general relativity. Specifically, we shall focus on the behaviour of a quantum field subjected to a manifold containing regions of different signature. We emphasise that, regardless of the underlying classical theory, there are severe problems associated with any quantum field theory residing on a signature-changing background. (Such as the production of what is naively an infinite number of particles, with an infinite energy density.) From the viewpoint of quantum gravity phenomenology, we discuss possible consequences of an effective Lorentz symmetry breaking scale. To more fully understand the physics of quantum fields exposed to finite regions of Euclidean-signature (Riemannian) geometry, we show its similarities with the quantum barrier penetration problem, and the super-Hubble horizon modes encountered in cosmology. Finally we raise the question as to whether signature change transitions could be fully understood and dynamically generated within (modified) classical general relativity, or whether they require the knowledge of a full theory of quantum gravity.

Recommendations

• Change of signature in classical relativity
• Signature change, mixed problems and numerical relativity
• Kleinian signature change
• ON SIGNATURE TRANSITION IN ROBERTSON–WALKER COSMOLOGIES
• Gravity and signature change

Cited in

(16)

• Curvature measures of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds
• Between quantum and classical gravity: Is there a mesoscopic spacetime?
• Information content and minimum-length metric: a drop of light
• Feynman's \(i\epsilon\) prescription, almost real spacetimes, and acceptable complex spacetimes
• Signature change in p-adic and noncommutative FRW cosmology
• Quantum metric for null separated events and spacetime atoms
• When time emerges
• Dark energy from instantons
• Kleinian signature change
• Signature change, mixed problems and numerical relativity
• SIGNATURE CHANGE IN NONCOMMUTATIVE FRW COSMOLOGY
• Classical Signature Change in the Black Hole Topology
• Two-dimensional first-order phase transition as signature change event in contact statistical manifolds with Finsler metric
• Analogue gravity
• Overall signature of the metric and the cosmological constant
• Can the universe change signature when gravity is dynamical?

This page was built for publication: Signature change events: a challenge for quantum gravity?

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q5305372)