Einstein's theory of general relativity is based on the premise that the physical laws take the same form in all coordinate systems. However, it still presumes a preferred decomposition of the total kinematic Hilbert space into local kinematic Hilbert spaces. In this paper, we consider a theory of quantum gravity that does not come with a preferred partitioning of the kinematic Hilbert space. It is pointed out that, in such a theory, dimension, signature, topology and geometry of spacetime depend on how a collection of local clocks is chosen within the kinematic Hilbert space.
We consider Weyl gauge theories of gravity (WGTs), which are invariant both under local Poincaré transformations and local changes of scale. Such theories may be interpreted as gauge theories in Minkowski spacetime, but their gravitational interactions are most often reinterpreted geometrically in terms of a Weyl--Cartan spacetime, in which any matter fields then reside. Such a spacetime is a straightforward generalisation of Weyl spacetime to include torsion. As first suggested by Einstein, Weyl spacetime is believed to exhibit a so-called second clock effect, which prevents the existence of …
Gravitomagnetic clock effects for circularly rotating orbits in black hole spacetimes are studied from a relative observer point of view, clarifying the roles played by special observer families.
The precision of optical atomic clocks is approaching a regime where they resolve gravitational time dilation on smaller scales than their own extensions. Hence, an accurate description of quantum clocks has to take their spatial extension into account. In this article, as a first step towards a fully relativistic description of extended quantum clocks, we investigate a quantized version of Einstein's light clock fixed at a constant distance from a large massive object like the Earth. The model consists of a quantum light field in a one-dimensional cavity in Schwarzschild spacetime, where the …
In the article we present explicit expressions for quantum fluctuations of spacetime in the case of $(4+n)$-dimensional spacetimes, and consider their holographic properties and some implications for clocks, black holes and computation. We also consider quantum fluctuations and their holographic properties in ADD model and estimate the typical size and mass of the clock to be used in precise measurements of spacetime fluctuations. Numerical estimations of phase incoherence of light from extra-galactic sources in ADD model are also presented.
Stationary axisymmetric spacetimes containing a pair of oppositely-rotating periodically-intersecting circular geodesics allow the study of various so-called `clock effects' by comparing either observer or geodesic proper time periods of orbital circuits defined by the observer or the geodesic crossing points. This can be extended from a comparison of clocks to a comparison of parallel transported vectors, leading to the study of special elements of the spacetime holonomy group. The band of holonomy invariance found for a dense subset of special geodesic orbits outside a certain radius in the …
What do simple clocks, simple computers, black holes, space-time foam, and holographic principle have in common? I will show that the physics behind them is inter-related, linking together our concepts of information, gravity, and quantum uncertainty. Thus, the physics that sets the limits to computation and clock precision also yields Hawking radiation of black holes and the holographic principle. Moreover, the latter two strongly imply that space-time undergoes much larger quantum fluctuations than what the folklore suggests --- large enough to be detected with modern gravitational-wave inte…
We demonstrate how one can distinguish a curved 4-dimensional spacetime from a flat one, when it is possible, relying only on the causality relations between events. It is known that it is possible only for spacetimes that are not conformally flat. We prove that if a spacetime is not conformally flat, then its non-flatness can be verified by only a few (sixteen) measurements of causal relations. Therefore the results of this paper clarify what can be said about flatness or non-flatness of the spacetime after a finite number of measurements of causal relations.
We critically discuss the measure of very short time intervals. By means of a Gedankenexperiment, we describe an ideal clock based on the occurrence of completely random events. Many previous thought experiments have suggested fundamental Planck-scale limits on measurements of distance and time. Here we present a new type of thought experiment, based on a different type of clock, that provide further support for the existence of such limits. We show that the minimum time interval $Δt$ that this clock can measure scales as the inverse of its size $Δr$. This implies an uncertainty relation betwe…
A recent paper (gr-qc/9909017) criticizes our work on the structure of spacetime foam. Its authors argue that the quantum uncertainty limit for the position of the quantum clock in a gedanken timing experiment, obtained by Wigner and used by us, is based on unrealistic assumptions. Here we point out some flaws in their argument. We also discuss their other comments and some other issues related to our work, including a simple connection to the holographic principle. We see no reason to change our cautious optimism on the detectability of spacetime foam with future refinements of modern gravita…
We derive the functional Schrodinger equation for quantum fields in curved spacetime in the semiclassical limit of quantum geometrodynamics with a Gaussian incoherent dust acting as a clock field. We perform the semiclassical limit using a WKB-type expansion of the wave functional in powers of the squared Planck mass. The functional Schrodinger equation that we obtain exhibits a functional time derivative that completes the usual definition of WKB time for curved spacetime, and the usual Schrodinger-type evolution is recovered in Minkowski spacetime.
Lecture at BOSS2011 on relativistic metrology, on clock synchronization, relativistic dynamics and non-inertial frames in Minkowski spacetime, on relativistic atomic physics, on ADM canonical tetrad gravity in asymptotically Minkowskian spacetimes, on the York canonical basis identifying the inertial (gauge) and tidal degrees of freedom of the gravitational field, on the Post-Minkowskian linearization in 3-orthogonal gauges, on the Post-Newtonian limit of matter Hamilton equations, on the possibility to interpret dark matter as a relativistic inertial effect connected with relativistic metrolo…
We study the behaviour of spinning test particles in the Schwarzschild spacetime. Using Mathisson-Papapetrou equations of motion we confine our attention to spatially circular orbits and search for observable effects which could eventually discriminate among the standard supplementary conditions namely the Corinaldesi-Papapetrou, Pirani and Tulczyjew. We find that if the world line chosen for the multipole reduction and whose unit tangent we denote as $U$ is a circular orbit then also the generalized momentum $P$ of the spinning test particle is tangent to a circular orbit even though $P$ and …
We discuss the question of time in a Bianchi I quantum cosmology in the framework of singularity avoidance. We show that time parameters fall into two distinct classes, that are such that the time development of the wave function either always leads to the appearance of a singularity (fast-gauge time) or that always prevents it from occurring (slow-gauge time). Furthermore, we find that, in the latter case, there exists an asymptotic regime, independent of the clock choice. This may point to a possible solution of the clock issue in quantum cosmology if there exists a suitable class of clocks …
We study the motion of spinning test particles in Kerr spacetime using the Mathisson-Papapetrou equations; we impose different supplementary conditions among the well known Corinaldesi-Papapetrou, Pirani and Tulczyjew's and analyze their physical implications in order to decide which is the most natural to use. We find that if the particle's center of mass world line, namely the one chosen for the multipole reduction, is a spatially circular orbit (sustained by the tidal forces due to the spin) then the generalized momentum $P$ of the test particle is also tangent to a spatially circular orbit…
If a clock, mathematically modeled by a parametrized timelike curve in a general-relativistic spacetime, is given, the radar method assigns a time and a distance to every event which is sufficiently close to the clock. Several geometric aspects of this method are reviewed and their physical interpretation is discussed.
We derive exact expressions for the relativistic redshift between an Earth-bound observer, that is meant to model a standard clock on the Earth's surface, and various (geodesic) observers in the Schwarzschild spacetime. We assume that the observers exchange radial light signals to compare the frequencies of standard clocks, which they transport along their respective worldlines. We calculate the redshift between an Earth-bound clock and static observers, observers in radial free fall, on circular geodesics, and on arbitrary bound quasi-elliptical orbits. For the latter case, we consider as exa…
The conflict between quantum theory and the theory of relativity is exemplified in their treatment of time. We examine the ways in which their conceptions differ, and describe a semiclassical clock model combining elements of both theories. The results obtained with this clock model in flat spacetime are reviewed, and the problem of generalizing the model to curved spacetime is discussed, before briefly describing an experimental setup which could be used to test of the model. Taking an operationalist view, where time is that which is measured by a clock, we discuss the conclusions that can be…
This paper is a generalization of earlier papers [Nucl. Phys. B 884, 344 (2014) (arXiv:1312.2759) and JHEP 6, 63 (2015) (arXiv:1401.2488)]. We generalize the idea of quantum clock time to quantum spacetime reference frame via physical realization of a reference system by quantum rulers and clocks. Omitting the internal degrees of freedom (such as spins) of the physical rulers and clocks, only considering their metric properties, the spacetime reference frame is described by a bosonic non-linear sigma model (NLSM). We study the quantum behavior of the system under approximations, and obtain (1)…
General Relativistic Chronometry with Clocks on Ground and in Space
Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), University of Bremen(不莱梅大学应用空间技术与微重力中心(ZARM));Gauss-Olbers-Center, University of Bremen(不莱梅大学高斯-奥尔伯斯中心);Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Bremen(不莱梅大学理论物理研究所)
In an apparently unexplored region of relativistic spacetime, a simple thought experiment demonstrates that conjoined Lorentz transformations predict a proper clock at rest will run backwards and that prediction violates the logical principle of causality. Shown first in a modification of the standard clock paradox thought experiment, this fault carries over to finite accelerations of the moving observer. After re-examination of the standard clock paradox, a logical fault was also found in the concept of spacetime. A two-dimensional treatment of the Earth orbit predicts that our astronomers sh…
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, precisely and physically identified from experimental examples, together give a physical justification for the `chronometric hypothesis' of general relativity. Indeed, we show that, with a lack of these latter two ingredients, no clock paradox solution exists in which the clock and message functions are solely at the origin of the asymmetry. These proper times originate from a given conformal structure of the spacetime when ascribing different compa…
Using gyroscopes we generalize results, obtained for the gravitomagnetic clock effect in the particular case when the exterior spacetime is produced by a rotating dust cylinder, to the case when the vacuum spacetime is described by the general cylindrically symmetric Lewis spacetime. Results are contrasted with those obtained for the Kerr spacetime.
The Bardeen model describes a regular space-time, i.e. a singularity-free black hole space-time. In this paper, by analyzing the behavior of the effective potential for the particles and photons, we investigate the time-like and null geodesic structures in the space-time of Bardeen model. At the same time, all kinds of orbits, which are allowed according to the energy level corresponding to the effective potentials, are numerically simulated in detail. We find many-world bound orbits, two-world escape orbits and escape orbits in this spacetime. We also find that bound orbits precession directi…
Just after Weyl's paper (Weyl in Gravitation und Elektrizität, Sitzungsber. Preuss. Akad., Berlin, 1918) Einstein claimed that a gravity model written in a spacetime geometry with non-metricity suffers from a phenomenon, the so-called second clock effect. We give a new prescription of parallel transport of a vector tangent to a curve which is invariant under both of local general coordinate and Weyl transformations in order to remove that effect. Thus since the length of tangent vector does not change during parallel transport along a closed curve in spacetimes with non-metricity, a second clo…
The relation between Einstein equivalence principle and a continuous quantum measurement is analyzed in the context of the recently proposed flavor-oscillation clocks, an idea pioneered by Ahluwalia and Burgard (Gen. Rel Grav. Errata 29, 681 (1997)). We will calculate the measurement outputs if a flavor-oscillation clock, which is immersed in a gravitational field, is subject to a continuous quantum measurement. Afterwards, resorting to the weak equivalence principle, we obtain the corresponding quantities in a freely falling reference frame. Finally, comparing this last result with the measur…
We discuss a recent provocative suggestion by Amelino-Camelia and others that classical spacetime may break down into ``quantum foam'' on distance scales many orders of magnitude larger than the Planck length, leading to effects which could be detected using large gravitational wave interferometers. This suggestion is based on a quantum uncertainty limit obtained by Wigner using a quantum clock in a gedanken timing experiment. Wigner's limit, however, is based on two unrealistic and unneccessary assumptions: that the clock is free to move, and that it does not interact with the environment. Re…
In 1981 Wyman classified the solutions of the Einstein--Klein--Gordon equations with static spherically symmetric spacetime metric and vanishing scalar potential. For one of these classes, the scalar field linearly grows with time. We generalize this symmetry noninheriting solution, perturbatively, to a rotating one and extend the static solution exactly to arbitrary spacetime dimensions. Furthermore, we investigate the existence of nonminimally coupled, time-dependent real scalar fields on top of static black holes, and prove a no-hair theorem for stealth scalar fields on the Schwarzschild ba…
The historical origins of Fermi-Walker transport and Fermi coordinates and the construction of Fermi-Walker transported frames in black hole spacetimes are reviewed. For geodesics this transport reduces to parallel transport and these frames can be explicitly constructed using a Killing-Yano tensor as shown by Marck. For accelerated or geodesic circular orbits in such spacetimes, both parallel and Fermi-Walker transported frames can be given, and allow one to study circular holonomy and related clock and spin transport effects. In particular the total angle of rotation that a spin vector under…
The idea that spacetime points are to be identified by a fleet of clock--carrying particles can be traced to the earliest days of general relativity. Such a fleet of clocks can be described phenomenologically as a reference fluid. One approach to the problem of time consists in coupling the metric to a reference fluid and solving the super--Hamiltonian constraint for the momentum conjugate to the clock time variable. The resolved constraint leads to a functional Schrödinger equation and formally to a conserved inner product. The reference fluid that is described phenomenologically as incoheren…
The special conformal transformation (composed by inversion - translation - inversion) is used to generate a time dependent conformally flat spacetime. In order to be an exact solution of Einstein's equations, we need as a source a stress tensor corresponding to an anisotropic fluid with negative regular energy density and positive pressures. For the static approximation, the generators of the infinitesimal transformation resemble those recently obtained by Majhi and Padmanabhan for the coordinate transformation leading to the "near horizon" Schwarzschild metric in Kruskal coordinates. The sta…
The Lorentzian length of a timelike curve connecting both endpoints of a classical computation is a function of the path taken through Minkowski spacetime. The associated runtime difference is due to time-dilation: the phenomenon whereby an observer finds that another's physically identical ideal clock has ticked at a different rate than their own clock. Using ideas appearing in the framework of computational complexity theory, time-dilation is quantified as an algorithmic resource by relating relativistic energy to an $n$th order polynomial time reduction at the completion of an observer's jo…
The Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP) carries a pivotal role in understanding theory of gravity and spacetime. It guarantees the gravity to be understood as geometric phenomenon. Considering gravitational coupling of matter in the standard model extension, we propose a novel scheme using frequency measurements to limit the equivalence principle violations in normal matter. The proposal consists of the comparison of high-precision clocks, comoving with the freely falling frame. The experimental comparison of identical kind of clocks on Earth surface can be used to carry out the proposed test…
In general relativity, the description of spacetime relies on idealised rods and clocks, which identify a reference frame. In any concrete scenario, reference frames are associated to physical systems, which are ultimately quantum in nature. A relativistic description of the laws of physics hence needs to take into account such quantum reference frames (QRFs), through which spacetime can be given an operational meaning. Here, we introduce the notion of a spacetime QRF, associated to a quantum particle in spacetime. Such formulation has the advantage of treating space and time on equal footing,…
Ringdown in Vaidya spacetimes: time-dependent frequencies, Penrose limit and time-domain analyses
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University(名古屋大学理学研究科);Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI)(小林-益川粒子宇宙起源研究所);Department of Information, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Daiichi Institute of Technology(第一工业大学信息、人工智能与数据科学系);Department of Physics, Rikkyo University(立教大学物理学系)
In Einstein's gedankenexperiment for measuring space and time, an ensemble of clocks moving through curved spacetime measures geometry by sending signals back and forth, as in the global positioning system (GPS). Combining well-known quantum limits to measurement with the requirement that the energy density of clocks and signals be be no greater than the black hole density leads to the quantum geometric limit: the total number of ticks of clocks and clicks of detectors that can be contained in a four volume of spacetime of radius r and temporal extent t is less than or equal to rt/πl_P t_P, wh…
Ideal rods and clocks are defined as an infinitesimal symmetry of the spacetime. Since no a priori geometric structure is considered, all the possible models of spacetime are obtained.
After a review of the chrono-geometrical structure of special relativity, where the definition of the instantaneous 3-space is based on the observer-dependent convention for the synchronization of distant clocks, it is shown that in a class of models of general relativity the instantaneous 3-space and the associated clock synchronization convention are dynamically determined by Einstein's equations. This theoretical framework is necessary to understand the relativistic effects around the Earth, to be tested with the ACES mission of ESA, and the implications for metrology induced by the accurac…
We apply the spacetime dependent lagrangian formalism [1] to the action in general relativity. We obtain a Barriola-Vilenkin type monopole solution by exploiting theelectrogravity duality of the vacuum Einstein equations and using a modified definition of empty space. An {\it upper bound} is obtained on the monopole mass ${\tt M}$, ${\tt M}\leq e^{(1-α)/α}/(1-α)^{2}{\tt G}$ where $α= 2k $ is the global monopole charge. Keywords: global monopole, electrogravity duality, holographic principle. PACS: 11.15.-q, 11.27.+d, 14.80.Hv, 04.
In the absence of dark matter, the dynamical and kinematical interpretations of the special relativistic spacetime have been and still are the topic of philosophic debate, which whilst fertile, is by and large of little predictive power. This changes dramatically if the debate includes a dark matter candidate in a "non-trivial" extension of the standard model. Here I argue that rods and clocks made out of dark matter may not reveal the same underlying algebraic structure as the rods and clocks made out of standard model particles. For the sake of concreteness I here exemplify the argument by l…
The massless scalar wave propagation in the time-dependent BTZ black hole background has been studied. It is shown that in the quasi-normal ringing both the decay and oscillation time-scales are modified in the time-dependent background.
Relativistic twin paradox can have important implications for Mach's principle. It has been recently argued that the behavior of the time asynchrony (different aging of twins) between two flying clocks along closed loops can be attributed to the existence of an absolute spacetime, which makes Mach's principle unfeasible. In this paper, we shall revisit, and support, this argument from a different viewpoint using the Sagnac delay. This is possible since the above time asynchrony is known to be exactly the same as the Sagnac delay between two circumnavigating light rays re-uniting at the orbitin…
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the `Lorentzian pedagogy' defended by J.S. Bell in his essay ``How to teach special relativity'', and to explore its consistency with Einstein's thinking from 1905 to 1952. Some remarks are also made in this context on Weyl's philosophy of relativity and his 1918 gauge theory. Finally, it is argued that the Lorentzian pedagogy - which stresses the important connection between kinematics and dynamics - clarifies the role of rods and clocks in general relativity.
When a space-craft reaches a large radial velocity, we expand the time dependent radial distance to linear order in time. In the Schwarzschild metric this linear term in time leads to a significant un-modelled clock acceleration. For Pioneer 10, this acceleration is found to be about $40\%$ of the observed anomalous acceleration. As measured distances are geocentric distances instead of the heliocentric distances in the model, this un-modelled acceleration has an annual oscillation with amplitude close to observations. For Pioneer 11, we find that the un-modelled acceleration "On-Set" is cause…
Most no-hair theorems involve the assumption that the scalar field is independent of time. Recently in [Phys. Rev. D90 (2014) 041501(R)] the existence of time-dependent scalar hair outside a stationary black hole in general relativity was ruled out. We generalize this work to modified gravities and non-minimally coupled scalar field with an additional assumption that the spacetime is axisymmetric. It is shown that in higher-order gravity such as metric $f(R)$ gravity the time-dependent scalar hair doesn't exist. While in Palatini $f(R)$ gravity and non-minimally coupled case the time-dependent…
We extend de la Fuente and Romero's defining equation for uniform acceleration in a general curved spacetime from linear acceleration to the full Lorentz covariant uniform acceleration. In a flat spacetime background, we have explicit solutions. We use generalized Fermi-Walker transport to parallel transport the Frenet basis along the trajectory. In flat spacetime, we obtain velocity and acceleration transformations from a uniformly accelerated system to an inertial system. We obtain the time dilation between accelerated clocks. We apply our acceleration transformations to the motion of a char…
We investigate cosmological particle production in spacetimes where Lorentz invariance emerges in the infrared limit, but is explicitly broken in the ultraviolet regime. Our specific model focuses on the boost subgroup that supports CPT invariance and results in a momentum-dependent dispersion relation. Motivated by previous studies on spacetimes emerging from a microscopic substrate, we show how these modifications naturally lead to momentum-dependent rainbow metrics. Firstly, we investigate the possibility of reproducing cosmological particle production in spacetimes emerging from real Bose …
When applied to a dipole source subjected to acceleration which is violent and long lasting (``extreme acceleration''), Maxwell's equations predict radiative power which augments Larmor's classical radiation formula by a nontrivial amount. The physical assumptions behind this result are made possible by the kinematics of a system of geometrical clocks whose tickings are controlled by cavities which are expanding inertially. For the purpose of measuring the radiation from such a source we take advantage of the physical validity of a spacetime coordinate framework (``inertially expanding frame''…
In this note we review the problem of time delay of photons propagating in a spacetime with a metric that explicitly depends on the energy of the particles (Gravity-Rainbow approach). We show that corrections due to this approach -- which is closely related to DSR proposal -- produce for small redshifts ($z<<1$) smaller time delays than in the generic Lorentz Invariance Violating case.