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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Angela White
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We investigate the behaviour of quantum fields coupled to a spacetime geometry exhibiting finite regions of Euclidean (Riemannian) signature. Although from a gravity perspective this situation might seem somewhat far fetched, we will demonstrate its direct physical relevance for an explicitly realizable condensed matter system whose linearized perturbations experience an effective emergent spacetime geometry with externally controllable signature. This effective geometry is intrinsically quantum in origin, and its signature is determined by the details of the microscopic structure. At the level of the effective field theory arising from our condensed matter system we encounter explicit anisotropic scaling in time and space. Here Lorentz symmetry is an emergent symmetry in the infrared. This anisotropic scaling of time and space cures some of the technical problems that arise when working within a canonical quantisation scheme obeying strict Lorentz invariance at all scales, and so is helpful in permitting signature change events to take place. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Author(s): Weinfurtner S, White A, Visser M
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Journal of Physics: Conference Series.13th Conference on Recent Developments in Gravity (NEB XIII)
Year of Conference: 2009
Pages: 012046
ISSN: 1742-6588
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/189/1/012046
DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/189/1/012046
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 17426596