Generalized spacetimes with quantum singularities

ORAL

Abstract

Levi-Civita and Raychaudhuri spacetimes are generalized with the addition of disclinations and space-like and time-like dislocations. These new solutions to Einstein's Field Equations are then tested for classical and quantum singularities. Whereas a classical singularity is present if there are incomplete geodesics or incomplete curves of bounded acceleration in these otherwise maximal spacetimes, a quantum singularity is said to be present if the propagation of a quantum wave packet is ill-posed (in particular, if the Klein-Gordon wave operator is not essentially self-adjoint). We find that in these generalized spacetimes classical quasiregular and scalar curvature singularities are mirrored by generic quantum singularities.

*DAK was partially supported by NSF grant PHY-02411384 to the U.S. Naval Academy. She also thanks Queen Mary, University of London where some of this research was carried out.

Authors

  • Deborah A. Konkowski

    • U. S. Naval Academy
  • Thomas M. Helliwell

    • Harvey Mudd College