Related papers: Cosmological Time in (2+1) - Gravity
We use the polygon representation of 2+1--dimensional gravity to explicitly carry out the canonical quantization of a universe with the topology of a torus. The mapping-class-invariant wave function for a quantum ''big bounce'', is…
The Groups of causal and conformal automorphisms of globally hyperbolic spacetimes were studied. In two dimensions, we prove that all globally hyperbolic spacetimes that are directed and connected are causally isomorphic. We work out the…
We discuss some global properties of cosmological spacetimes of de Sitter type, based on results with Lars Andersson obtained in hep-th/0202161. We relate the geometry and topology of conformal infinity to the occurrence of singularities in…
An important task faced by all approaches of quantum gravity is to incorporate superpositions and quantify quantum uncertainties of spacetime causal relations. We address this task in 2D. By identifying a global $Z_2$ symmetry of 1+1D…
The necessity of rejecting the numerical model of geometrical extension is postulated on the basis of the idea of identity of space-time and physical vacuum. An attempt is made to define space-time not via the concept of manifold, but via…
A model for 2D-quantum gravity from the Virasoro symmetry is studied. The notion of space-time naturally arises as a homogeneous space associated with the kinematical (non-dynamical) SL(2,R) symmetry in the kernel of the Lie-algebra central…
It is proved that all discontinuity points of a finite cosmological time function, $\tau$, are on past lightlike rays. As a result, it is proved that if $(M,g)$ is a chronological space-time without past lightlike rays then there is a…
We show the rigid singularity theorem, that is, a globally hyperbolic spacetime satisfying the strong energy condition and containing past trapped sets, either is timelike geodesically incomplete or splits isometrically as space $\times$…
Improving a singularity theorem in General Relativity by Galloway and Ling we show the following (cf.\ Theorem 1): If a globally hyperbolic spacetime $M$ satisfying the null energy condition contains a closed, spacelike Cauchy surface…
This chapter is an up-to-date account of results on globally hyperbolic spacetimes, and serves several purposes. We begin with the exposition of results from a foundational level, where the main tools are order theory and general topology,…
We propose an exact Hamiltonian lattice theory for (2+1)-dimensional spacetimes with homogeneous curvature. By gauging away the lattice we find a generalization of the ``polygon representation'' of (2+1)-dimensional gravity. We compute the…
With the theory of special relativity, time has been linked with space into a four-dimensional space-time from which a basic question must be asked: can space be really transformed into time and vice-versa? The response is affirmative if…
We consider spacetime to be a 4-dimensional differentiable manifold that can be split locally into time and space. No metric, no linear connection are assumed. Matter is described by classical fields/fluids. We distinguish electrically…
We define the notion of a finite-time singularity of a vector field and then discuss a technique suitable for the asymptotic analysis of vector fields and their integral curves in the neighborhood of such a singularity. Having in mind the…
Self-similar spacetimes are of importance to cosmology and to gravitational collapse problems. We show that self-similarity or the existence of a homothetic Killing vector field for spherically symmetric spacetimes implies the separability…
We provide a discussion of some main ideas in our project about the physical foundation of the time concept in cosmology. It is standard to point to the Planck scale (located at $\sim 10^{-43}$ seconds after a fictitious "Big Bang" point)…
The conical singularity in flat spacetime is mostly known as a model of the cosmic string or the wedge disclination in solids. Its another, equally important, function is to be a representative of quasiregular singularities. From all these…
We show that the arrow of time is intimately related to the geometry and topology of the whole universe, and is therefore best understood as a cosmological phenomenon.
A new type of singularity theorem, based on spatial averages of physical quantities, is presented and discussed. Alternatively, the results inform us of when a spacetime can be singularity-free. This theorem provides a decisive…
The quantum description of time evolution in non-linear gravitational systems such as cosmological space-times is not well understood. We show, in the simplified setting of mini-superspace, that time evolution of this system can be obtained…