English

Classical uncertainty in predicting the future

General Physics 2018-07-20 v1

Abstract

In this work we scrutinize the deterministic nature of globally hyperbolic space-times from the point of view of an observer. We show that a space-time point qMq \in M that lies to the future of an observer at pMp \in M, receives signals that are invisible (to be made precise) to the observer at pp. Part of the initial data on a Cauchy surface, required to predict what happens at qq, is also invisible to the observer at pp. Therefore it is not possible for any observer to predict a future event with certainty. The uncertainty increases as one attempts to predict further future. An observer at pp can access the entire data to determine what happens at qq, if and only if qJ(p)q \in J^-(p). Classical uncertainty in prediction is not an intrinsic feature of the events in space-time. It adds up with the usual quantum mechanical uncertainty to limit our ability to predict the future. We also suggest a thought experiment to elucidate the subject.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1807.07415,
  title  = {Classical uncertainty in predicting the future},
  author = {Koray Düztaş},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1807.07415},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

Pre-print version. 3 pages, no figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T03:07:24.259Z