English

The Solution to the Problem of Time in Shape Dynamics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2015-06-15 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

The absence of unique time evolution in Einstein's spacetime description of gravity leads to the hitherto unresolved `problem of time' in quantum gravity. Shape Dynamics is an objectively equivalent representation of gravity that trades spacetime refoliation invariance for three-dimensional conformal invariance. Its logical completion presented here gives a dimensionless description of gravitational dynamics. We show that in this framework the classical problem of time is completely solved. Since a comparable definitive solution is impossible within the spacetime description, we believe Shape Dynamics provides a key ingredient for the creation of quantum gravity.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1302.6264,
  title  = {The Solution to the Problem of Time in Shape Dynamics},
  author = {Julian Barbour and Tim Koslowski and Flavio Mercati},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.6264},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

14 pages, no figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T23:32:27.854Z