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An obstacle to building a time machineGott (1991) has shown that a spacetime with two infinite parallel cosmic strings passing each other with sufficient velocity contains closed timelike curves. An attempt to build such a time machine is discussed. Using the energy-momentum conservation laws in the equivalent (2 + 1)-dimensional theory, the spacetime representing the decay of one gravitating particle into two is explicitly constructed; there is never enough mass in an open universe to build the time machine from the products of decays of stationary particles. More generally, the Gott time machine cannot exist in any open (2 + 1)-dimensional universe for which the total momentum is timelike.
Document ID
19920038834
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Carroll, Sean M.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Farhi, Edward
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Guth, Alan H.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 20, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Physical Review Letters
Volume: 68
ISSN: 0031-9007
Subject Category
Physics (General)
Accession Number
92A21458
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DE-AC02-76ER-03069
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-931
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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