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The Nature and Origin of Time-Asymmetric Spacetime Structures

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Springer Handbook of Spacetime

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Abstract

Time-asymmetric spacetime structures, in particular those representing black holes and the expansion of the universe, are intimately related to other arrows of time , such as the second law and the retardation of radiation. The nature of the quantum arrow, often attributed to a collapse of the wave function , is essential, in particular, for understanding the much discussed black hole information loss paradox . This paradox assumes a new form and can possibly be avoided in a consistent causal treatment that may be able to avoid horizons and singularities. The master arrow that would combine all arrows of time does not have to be identified with a direction of the formal time parameter that serves to formulate the dynamics as a succession of global states (a trajectory in configuration or Hilbert space). It may even change direction with respect to a fundamental physical clock such as the cosmic expansion parameter if this was formally extended either into a future contraction era or to negative pre-big-bang values.

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Abbreviations

ADM:

Arnowitt, Deser, Misner

CPT:

charge, parity, time

WKB:

Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 19, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    H. Dieter Zeh

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  1. H. Dieter Zeh
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Correspondence to H. Dieter Zeh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA, USA

    Abhay Ashtekar

  2. Institute for Foundational Studies Hermann Minkowski, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Vesselin Petkov

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Zeh, H.D. (2014). The Nature and Origin of Time-Asymmetric Spacetime Structures. In: Ashtekar, A., Petkov, V. (eds) Springer Handbook of Spacetime. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41992-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41992-8_10

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