English

The origin of the difference between space and time

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2023-04-25 v2

Abstract

All differences between the role of space and time in nature are explained by proposing the principles in which none of the spacetime coordinates has an {\it a priori} special role. Spacetime is treated as a non-dynamical manifold, with a fixed global RD\mathbb{R}^D topology. Dynamical theory of gravity determines only the metric tensor on a fixed manifold. All dynamics is treated as a Cauchy problem, so it {\em follows} that one coordinate takes a special role. It is proposed that {\em any} boundary condition that is finite everywhere leads to a solution which is also finite everywhere. This explains the (1,D1)(1,D-1) signature of the metric, the boundedness of energy from below, the absence of tachyons, and other related properties of nature. The time arrow is explained by proposing that the boundary condition should be ordered. The quantization is considered as a boundary condition for field operators. Only the physical degrees of freedom are quantized.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.gr-qc/9901045,
  title  = {The origin of the difference between space and time},
  author = {Hrvoje Nikolic},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/9901045},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

22 pages. I have written the first version (v1) 20+ years ago when I was young and bold, but then forgotten it and worked on other stuff. Now with some maturity I have looked at it again and concluded that it is still worth publication, with a minimal revision. The reviewers and editors of Symmetry agreed

R2 v1 2026-07-22T12:56:02.774Z