Quantum gravity, the origin of time and time's arrow
- Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
The local Lorentz and diffeomorphism symmetries of Einstein's gravitational theory are spontaneously broken by a Higgs mechanism by invoking a phase transition in the early universe, at a critical temperature [Tc] below which the symmetry is restored. The spontaneous breakdown of the vacuum state generates an external time, and the wave function of the universe satisfies a time-dependent Schroedinger equation, which reduces to the Wheeler-deWitt equation in the classical regime for T<[Tc], allowing a semiclassical WKB approximation to the wave function. The conservation of energy is spontaneously violated for T>[Tc], and matter is created fractions of seconds after the big bang, generating the matter in the Universe. The time direction of the vacuum expectation value of the scalar Higgs field generates a time asymmetry, which defines the cosmological arrow of time and the direction of increasing entropy as the Lorentz symmetry is restored at low temperatures. 52 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6306389
- Journal Information:
- Foundations of Physics; (United States), Vol. 23:3; ISSN 0015-9018
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GENERAL PHYSICS
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CAUSALITY
ORIGIN
QUANTUM GRAVITY
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
WAVE FUNCTIONS
WKB APPROXIMATION
ENTROPY
EXPECTATION VALUE
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SCATTERING
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
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FIELD THEORIES
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QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
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661310* - Relativity & Gravitation- (1992-)
662210 - Specific Theories & Interaction Models
Particle Systematics- Unified Theories & Models- (1992-)