Closed timelike curves in general relativity

We consider gravity in 2+1 dimensions in presence of extended stationary sources with rotational symmetry. We prove by direct use of Einstein's equations that if i) the energy momentum tensor satisfies the weak energy condition, ii) the universe is open (conical at space infinity), iii) there are no CTC at space infinity, then there are no CTC at all.

General relativity allows solutions exhibiting closed timelike curves. Time travel generates paradoxes and quantum mechanics generalizations were proposed to solve those paradoxes. The implications of self-consistent interactions on acausal region of space-time are investigated. If the correspondence principle is true, then all generalizations of quantum mechanics on acausal manifolds are not renormalizable. Therefore quantum mechanics can only be defined on global hyperbolic...

It has long been known that generic solutions to the nonlinear DGP and Galileon models admit superluminal propagation. In this note we present a solution of these models which also admits closed timelike curves (CTCs). We observe that these CTCs only arise when, according to each observer, there exists some region in which the higher derivative terms are larger than the 2-derivative kinetic term.

We construct a class of closed timelike curves (CTCs) using a compactified extra dimension $u$. A nonzero metric element $g_{tu}(u)$ enables particles to travel backwards in global time $t$. The compactified dimension guarantees that the geodesic curve closes in $u$. The effective 2D ($t$ and $u$) nature of the metric ensures that spacetime is flat, therein satisfying all the classical stability conditions as expressed by the energy conditions. Finally, stationarity of the me...

At first glance, it seems possible to construct in general relativity theory causality violating solutions. The most striking one is the Gott spacetime. Two cosmic strings, approaching each other with high velocity, could produce closed timelike curves. It was quickly recognized that this solution violates physical boundary conditions. The effective one particle generator becomes hyperbolic, so the center of mass is tachyonic. On a 5-dimensional warped spacetime, it seems pos...

In principe, General Relativity seems to allow the existence of closed timelike curves (CTC). However, when quantum effects are considered, it is likely that their existence is prevented by some kind of chronological protection mechanism, as Hawking conjectured. Confirming or refuting the conjecture would require a full quantum theory of gravity. Meanwhile, the use of simulations could shed some light on this issue. We propose simulations of CTCs in a quantum system as well a...

We investigate vacuum solutions of Einstein's equation for a universe with an S^1 topology of time. Such a universe behaves like a time-machine and has geodesics which coincide with closed time-like curves (CTCs). A system evolving along a CTC experiences the Loschmidt velocity reversion and undergoes a recurrence commensurate with the universal period. We indicate why this universe is free of the causality paradoxes, usually associated with CTCs.

The spacetime metric around a rotating SuperConductive Ring (SCR) is deduced from the gravitomagnetic London moment in rotating superconductors. It is shown that theoretically it is possible to generate Closed Timelike Curves (CTC) with rotating SCRs. The possibility to use these CTC's to travel in time as initially idealized by G\"{o}del is investigated. It is shown however, that from a technology and experimental point of view these ideas are impossible to implement in the ...

Because no closed timelike curve (CTC) on a Lorentzian manifold can be deformed to a point, any such manifold containing a CTC must have a topological feature, to be called a timelike wormhole, that prevents the CTC from being deformed to a point. If all wormholes have horizons, which typically seems to be the case in space-times without exotic matter, then each CTC must transit some timelike wormhole's horizon. Therefore, a Lorentzian manifold containing a CTC may neverthele...

We study the massless scalar field on asymptotically flat spacetimes with closed timelike curves (CTC's), in which all future-directed CTC's traverse one end of a handle (wormhole) and emerge from the other end at an earlier time. For a class of static geometries of this type, and for smooth initial data with all derivatives in $L_2$ on ${\cI}^{-}$, we prove existence of smooth solutions which are regular at null and spatial infinity (have finite energy and finite $L_2$-norm)...