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Quantum inequality in spacetimes with small curvature.

Authors :
Kontou, Eleni-Alexandra
Olum, Ken D.
Source :
Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation & Cosmology. May2015, Vol. 91 Issue 10-A, p1-14. 14p.
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

Quantum inequalities bound the extent to which weighted time averages of the renormalized energy density of a quantum field can be negative. Such inequalities in curved spacetime can be used to disprove the existence of exotic phenomena, such as closed timelike curves. Starting with a general result of Fewster and Smith, we derive a quantum inequality for a minimally coupled scalar field on a geodesic in a spacetime with small curvature, working to first order in the Ricci tensor and its derivatives. Since only the Ricci tensor enters, there are no first-order corrections to the flat-space quantum inequality on paths which do not encounter any matter or energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
24700010
Volume :
91
Issue :
10-A
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation & Cosmology
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
108472963
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.91.104005