Toward the End of Time
High Energy Physics - Theory
2009-11-11 v2
Abstract
The null-brane space-time provides a simple model of a big crunch/big bang singularity. A non-perturbative definition of M-theory on this space-time was recently provided using matrix theory. We derive the fermion couplings for this matrix model and study the leading quantum effects. These effects include particle production and a time-dependent potential. Our results suggest that as the null-brane develops a big crunch singularity, the usual notion of space-time is replaced by an interacting gluon phase. This gluon phase appears to constitute the end of our conventional picture of space and time.
Cite
@article{arxiv.hep-th/0603104,
title = {Toward the End of Time},
author = {Emil J. Martinec and Daniel Robbins and Savdeep Sethi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/0603104},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
31 pages, reference added