<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-Causality Coincides with Stable Causality

It is proven that K-causality coincides with stable causality, and that in a K-causal spacetime the relation K ⁺ coincides with the Seifert’s relation. As a consequence the causal relation “the spacetime is strongly causal and the closure of the causal relation is transitive” stays between stable causality and causal continuity.     

Finitary-Algebraic ‘Resolution’ of the Inner Schwarzschild Singularity

A ‘resolution’ of the interior singularity of the spherically symmetric Schwarzschild solution of the Einstein equations for the gravitational field of a point-particle is carried out entirely and solely by finitistic and algebraic means. To this end, the background differential spacetime manifold and, in extenso, Differential Calculus-free purely algebraic (:sheaf-theoretic) conceptual and technical machinery of Abstract Differential Geometry (ADG) is employed. As in previous works [Mallios, A. and Raptis, I. (2001). Finitary spacetime sheaves of quantum causal sets: Curving quantum causality. International Journal of Theoretical Physics, 40, 1885 [gr-qc/0102097]; Mallios, A. and Raptis, I. (2002). Finitary Čech-de Rham cohomology. International Journal of Theoretical Physics, 41, 1857 [gr-qc/0110033]; Mallios, A. and Raptis, I. (2003). Finitary, causal and quantal vacuum Einstein gravity. International Journal of Theoretical Physics 42, 1479 [gr-qc/0209048]], which this paper continues, the starting point for the present application of ADG is Sorkin's finitary (:locally finite) poset (:partially ordered set) substitutes of continuous manifolds in their Gel'fand-dual picture in terms of discrete differential incidence algebras and the finitary spacetime sheaves thereof. It is shown that the Einstein equations hold not only at the finitary poset level of ‘discrete events,’ but also at a suitable ‘classical spacetime continuum limit’ of the said finitary sheaves and the associated differential triads that they define ADG-theoretically. The upshot of this is two-fold: On the one hand, the field equations are seen to hold when only finitely many events or ‘degrees of freedom’ of the gravitational field are involved, so that no infinity or uncontrollable divergence of the latter arises at all in our inherently finitistic-algebraic scenario. On the other hand, the law of gravity—still modelled in ADG by a differential equation proper—does not break down in any (differential geometric) sense in the vicinity of the locus of the point-mass as it is traditionally maintained in the usual manifold-based analysis of spacetime singularities in General Relativity (GR). At the end, some brief remarks are made on the potential import of ADG-theoretic ideas in developing a genuinely background-independent Quantum Gravity (QG). A brief comparison between the ‘resolution’ proposed here and a recent resolution of the inner Schwarzschild singularity by Loop QG means concludes the paper. PACS numbers: 04.60.−m, 04.20.Gz, 04.20.−q     

Boundary sources in the Doran-Lobo-Crawford spacetime

We take a null hypersurface (causal horizon) generated by a congruence of null geodesics as the boundary of the Doran-Lobo-Crawford spacetime to be the place where the Brown-York quasilocal energy is located. The components of the outer and inner stress tensors are computed and shown to depend on time and on the impact parameter b of the test-particle trajectory. The spacetime is a solution of Einstein’s equations with an anisotropic fluid as source. The surface energy density σ on the boundary is given by the same expression as that obtained previously for the energy stored on a Rindler horizon. For time intervals long compared to b (when the stretched horizon tends to the causal one), the components of the stress tensors become constant.      

Lorentz cobordism. II

It is shown that ‘changes of topology’ (of spacelike sections) in the spacetime of classical general relativity are consistent with the following requirements: (i) stable causality, (ii) future causal geodesic completeness, and (iii) finite, positive energy density. This amounts to showing that the framework of classical general relativity encompasses ‘changes of topology’.     

Classical topology and quantum states

Any two infinite-dimensional (separable) Hilbert spaces are unitarily isomorphic. The sets of all their self-adjoint operators are also therefore unitarily equivalent. Thus if all self-adjoint operators can be observed, and if there is no further major axiom in quantum physics than those formulated for example in Dirac’s ‘quantum mechanics’, then a quantum physicist would not be able to tell a torus from a hole in the ground. We argue that there are indeed such axioms involving observables with smooth time evolution: they contain commutative subalgebras from which the spatial slice of spacetime with its topology (and with further refinements of the axiom, its C ^K - and C ^--structures) can be reconstructed using Gel’fand-Naimark theory and its extensions. Classical topology is an attribute of only certain quantum observables for these axioms, the spatial slice emergent from quantum physics getting progressively less differentiable with increasingly higher excitations of energy and eventually altogether ceasing to exist. After formulating these axioms, we apply them to show the possibility of topology change and to discuss quantized fuzzy topologies. Fundamental issues concerning the role of time in quantum physics are also addressed.     

Volume functions in general relativity

It is shown that on every spacetime there is a finite Borel measure such that open sets have positive measure and the topological boundary of the chronological past/future of every point has measure zero. Using this measure volume, functions are defined. It is shown that they are semicontinuous, and the set of points at which they are discontinuous is a union of nullgeodesics. The following causality conditions are characterized in terms of their properties: chronological, distinguishing, strongly causal, causally continuous, globally hyperbolic.     

Fine structure constant variation or spacetime anisotropy?

Recent observations on the quasar absorption spectra supply evidence for the variation of the fine structure constant α. In this paper, we propose another interpretation of the observational data on the quasar absorption spectra: a scenario with spacetime inhomogeneity and anisotropy. Maybe the spacetime is characterized by the Finsler geometry instead of the Riemann one. The Finsler geometry admits fewer symmetries than the Riemann geometry does. We investigate the Finslerian geodesic equations in the Randers spacetime (a special Finsler spacetime). It is found that the cosmological redshift in this spacetime deviates from the one in general relativity. The modification term to the redshift could be generally revealed as a monopole plus dipole function of spacetime locations and directions. We suggest that this modification corresponds to the spatial monopole and dipole of α variation in the quasar absorption spectra.     

Conformal Proper Times According to the Woodhouse Causal Axiomatics of Relativistic Spacetimes

On the basis of the Woodhouse causal axiomatics, we show that conformal proper times and an extra variable in addition to those of space and time, together give a physical justification for the ‘chronometric hypothesis’ of general relativity. Indeed, we show that, with a lack of these latter two ingredients and of this hypothesis, clock paradoxes exist for which the unparadoxical asymmetry cannot be recovered when using the ‘clock and message functions’ only. These proper times originate from a given conformal structure of the spacetime when ascribing different compatible projective structures to each Woodhouse particle, and then, each defines a specific Weylian ‘sheaf structure’. In addition, the proper time parameterizations are defined via path-dependent conformal scale factors, which act like sockets for any kind of physical interaction and also represent the values of the variable associated with the extra dimension.     

Electrical resistivity of K-based liquid binaries

The study of the electrical resistivity of alkali K-based liquid binaries, viz, K _1−x Na _x, K _1−x Rb _x, and K _1−x Cs _x have been made by well recognized model potential. The most recent local field correction functions due to Farid et al. (F) and Sarkar et al. (S) are used for the first time in the study of electrical resistivity of liquid binary mixtures and found suitable for such study. The results due to the inclusion of Sarkar et al.’s local field correction function are found superior to those obtained due to Farid et al.’s local field correction function. The present results compare well the experimental data. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 40–44, August, 2006.     

A Domain of Spacetime Intervals in General Relativity

We prove that a globally hyperbolic spacetime with its causality relation is a bicontinuous poset whose interval topology is the manifold topology. From this one can show that from only a countable dense set of events and the causality relation, it is possible to reconstruct a globally hyperbolic spacetime in a purely order theoretic manner. The ultimate reason for this is that globally hyperbolic spacetimes belong to a category that is equivalent to a special category of domains called interval domains. We obtain a mathematical setting in which one can study causality independently of geometry and differentiable structure, and which also suggests that spacetime emerges from something discrete.     

Quantum Field Theory on Spacetimes with a Compactly Generated Cauchy Horizon

We prove two theorems which concern difficulties in the formulation of the quantum theory of a linear scalar field on a spacetime, , with a compactly generated Cauchy horizon. These theorems demonstrate the breakdown of the theory at certain base points of the Cauchy horizon, which are defined as ‘past terminal accumulation points’ of the horizon generators. Thus, the theorems may be interpreted as giving support to Hawking's ‘Chronology Protection Conjecture’, according to which the laws of physics prevent one from manufacturing a ’time machine‘. Specifically, we prove: Theorem 1. There is no extension to of the usual field algebra on the initial globally hyperbolic region which satisfies the condition of F-locality at any base point. In other words, any extension of the field algebra must, in any globally hyperbolic neighbourhood of any base point, differ from the algebra one would define on that neighbourhood according to the rules for globally hyperbolic spacetimes. Theorem 2. The two-point distribution for any Hadamard state defined on the initial globally hyperbolic region must (when extended to a distributional bisolution of the covariant Klein-Gordon equation on the full spacetime) be singular at every base point x in the sense that the difference between this two point distribution and a local Hadamard distribution cannot be given by a bounded function in any neighbourhood (in M × M) of (x,x). In consequence of Theorem 2, quantities such as the renormalized expectation value of φ² or of the stress-energy tensor are necessarily ill-defined or singular at any base point. The proof of these theorems relies on the ‘Propagation of Singularities’ theorems of Duistermaat and H?rmander. Received: 14 March 1996/Accepted: 11 June 1996     

Transverse spin and momentum correlations in quantum chromodynamics

The naive time reversal odd (‘T-odd’) parton distribution and fragmentation functions are explored. We use the spectator model framework to study flavour dependence of the Boer-Mulders (h ₁^⊥ ) and Sivers (f _1T^⊥) functions as well as the ‘T-even’ but chiral odd function h _1L^⊥. These transverse momentum-dependent parton distribution functions are of significance for the analysis of azimuthal asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering, as well as for the overall physical understanding of the distribution of transversely polarized quarks in unpolarized hadrons. In this context we also consider the Collins mechanism and the fragmentation function H ₁^⊥. As a by-product of this analysis we calculate the leading twist unpolarized cos(2ϕ) asymmetry, and sin(2ϕ) single spin asymmetry for a longitudinally polarized target in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering.      

K-causal structure of space-time in general relativity

Using K-causal relation introduced by Sorkin and Woolgar [1], we generalize results of Garcia-Parrado and Senovilla [2,3] on causal maps. We also introduce causality conditions with respect to K-causality which are analogous to those in classical causality theory and prove their inter-relationships. We introduce a new causality condition following the work of Bombelli and Noldus [4] and show that this condition lies in between global hyperbolicity and causal simplicity. This approach is simpler and more general as compared to traditional causal approach [5,6] and it has been used by Penrose et al [7] in giving a new proof of positivity of mass theorem. C ⁰-space-time structures arise in many mathematical and physical situations like conical singularities, discontinuous matter distributions, phenomena of topology-change in quantum field theory etc.      

Conformal changes and geodesic completeness

Let (M, g) be a causal spacetime. ConditionN will be satisfied if for each compact subsetK ofM there is no future inextendible nonspacelike curve which is totally future imprisoned inK. IfM satisfies conditionN, then wheneverE is an open and relatively compact subset ofM the spacetimeE with the metricg restricted toE is stably causal. Furthermore, there is a conformal factor such that (M, ² g) is both null and timelike geodesically complete. IfM is an open subset of two dimensional Minkowskian space, thenM is conformal to a geodesically complete spacetime.     

Smoothness of Time Functions and the Metric Splitting of Globally Hyperbolic Spacetimes

The folk questions in Lorentzian Geometry which concerns the smoothness of time functions and slicings by Cauchy hypersurfaces, are solved by giving simple proofs of: (a) any globally hyperbolic spacetime (M, g) admits a smooth time function whose levels are spacelike Cauchy hyperfurfaces and, thus, also a smooth global splitting if a spacetime M admits a (continuous) time function t then it admits a smooth (time) function with timelike gradient on all M.The second-named author has been partially supported by a MCyT-FEDER Grant, MTM2004-04934-C04-01.To Professor P.E. Ehrlich, wishing him a continued recovery and good health     

Rank-Driven Markov Processes

We study a class of Markovian systems of N elements taking values in [0,1] that evolve in discrete time t via randomized replacement rules based on the ranks of the elements. These rank-driven processes are inspired by variants of the Bak–Sneppen model of evolution, in which the system represents an evolutionary ‘fitness landscape’ and which is famous as a simple model displaying self-organized criticality. Our main results are concerned with long-time large-N asymptotics for the general model in which, at each time step, K randomly chosen elements are discarded and replaced by independent U[0,1] variables, where the ranks of the elements to be replaced are chosen, independently at each time step, according to a distribution κ _N on {1,2,…,N} ^K . Our main results are that, under appropriate conditions on κ _N , the system exhibits threshold behavior at s ^∗∈[0,1], where s ^∗ is a function of κ _N , and the marginal distribution of a randomly selected element converges to U[s ^∗,1] as t→∞ and N→∞. Of this class of models, results in the literature have previously been given for special cases only, namely the ‘mean-field’ or ‘random neighbor’ Bak–Sneppen model. Our proofs avoid the heuristic arguments of some of the previous work and use Foster–Lyapunov ideas. Our results extend existing results and establish their natural, more general context. We derive some more specialized results for the particular case where K=2. One of our technical tools is a result on convergence of stationary distributions for families of uniformly ergodic Markov chains on increasing state-spaces, which may be of independent interest.     

Correction to Entropy of Schwarzschild Black Hole by Modified Dispersion Relation

Taking WKB approximation to solve the scalar field equation in the Schwarzschild black hole spacetime, we can get the classical momenta. Substituting the classical momenta into state density equation corrected by the modified dispersion relation, we will obtain the number of quantum states with energy less than ω. Then, it is used to calculate the statistical-mechanical entropy of the scalar field in the Schwarzschild black hole spacetime. By taking exact method, we obtained the leader term of entropy which is proportional to the event horizon area and correction terms take the forms of ln A, A ⁻¹ln A, A ⁻¹ and so on.     

Quantum Out-States Holographically Induced by Asymptotic Flatness: Invariance under Spacetime Symmetries, Energy Positivity and Hadamard Property

This paper continues the analysis of the quantum states introduced in previous works and determined by the universal asymptotic structure of four-dimensional asymptotically flat vacuum spacetimes at null infinity M. It is now focused on the quantum state λ _M , of a massless conformally coupled scalar field propagating in M. λ _M is “holographically” induced in the bulk by the universal BMS-invariant state λ defined on the future null infinity of M. It is done by means of the correspondence between observables in the bulk and those on the boundary at future null infinity discussed in previous papers. This induction is possible when some requirements are fulfilled, in particular whenever the spacetime M and the associated unphysical one, M͂, are globally hyperbolic and M admits future time infinity i ⁺. λ _M coincides with Minkowski vacuum if M is Minkowski spacetime. It is now proved that, in the general case of a curved spacetime M, the state λ _M enjoys the following further remarkable properties:

Optical functions of InGaP/GaAs epitaxial layers from 0.01 to 5.5 eV

In_0.49Ga_0.51P films, both undoped and doped n- and p-type (up to 10¹⁸ cm^-3), were grown lattice matched on GaAs substrates, with different miscut angles, by Metal-Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) at different temperatures. The shift of the fundamental gap E₀, caused by “ordering effect” was measured as a function of temperature by photoluminescence. The complex refractive index = n + ik and the dielectric function = ɛ ₁ + iɛ ₂ at room temperature were determined from 0.01 to 5.5 eV by using complementary data from fast-Fourier-transform far-infrared (FFT-FIR), dispersive, and ellipsometric spectroscopies. The effect of the native oxide was accounted for and the self-consistency of the optical functions was checked in the framework of the Kramers-Kronig causality relations. In the restrahlen region the dielectric function was well fitted by classical Lorentz oscillators; in the transparent region below E₀, the refractive index was modelled by a Sellmeier dispersion relation; in the interband region the dielectric function was well reproduced by analytical lineshapes associated to seven critical points. Thus parametrized analytical expressions were obtained for the optical functions all over the spectral range, without discontinuities, to be used in the modelling and characterization of multi-layer structures, also on opaque substrates. Received 13 December 2001 Published online 25 June 2002     

Influence of anisotropy on the dispersion of surface plasmon-phonon polaritons in silicon carbide

Surface plasmon-phonon polaritons (SPPP’s) of types 3 and 4 are investigated in doped anisotropic single crystals of hexagonal silicon carbide (6H-SiC) in the orientation corresponding to K⊥C and xy⊥C. It is shown that a dispersion dependence of the type-3 SPPP’s bounded by K appears in 6H-SiC when the plasmon frequency increases to ν _p⊥⩾350 cm⁻¹. At ν _p⊥⩾400 cm⁻¹, ν _s(K) exists for type-4 SPPP’s in the frequency range Ω _∥ ⁺ <ν< _⊥ ⁺ . When the concentration of free charge carriers is increased, the dispersion curves are displaced toward higher frequencies. The conditions for the existence of type-3 and type-4 SPPP’s in 6H-SiC are determined. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 636–639 (April 1998)