English

Averaged null energy condition violation in a conformally flat spacetime

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2010-01-28 v2 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We show that the averaged null energy condition can be violated by a conformally coupled scalar field in a conformally flat spacetime in 3+1 dimensions. The violation is dependent on the quantum state and can be made as large as desired. It does not arise from the presence of anomalies, although anomalous violations are also possible. Since all geodesics in conformally flat spacetimes are achronal, the achronal averaged null energy condition is likewise violated.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0910.5925,
  title  = {Averaged null energy condition violation in a conformally flat spacetime},
  author = {Douglas Urban and Ken D. Olum},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0910.5925},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

11 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T14:05:30.497Z