Arrow of time in cosmology

S. W. Hawking
Phys. Rev. D 32, 2489 – Published 15 November 1985
An article within the collection: The Work of Stephen Hawking in Physical Review
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Abstract

The usual proof of the CPT theorem does not apply to theories which include the gravitational field. Nevertheless, it is shown that CPT invariance still holds in these cases provided that, as has recently been proposed, the quantum state of the Universe is defined by a path integral over metrics that are compact without boundary. The observed asymmetry or arrow of time defined by the direction of time in which entropy increases is shown to be related to the cosmological arrow of time defined by the direction of time in which the Universe is expanding. It arises because in the proposed quantum state the Universe would have been smooth and homogeneous when it was small but irregular and inhomogeneous when it was large. The thermodynamic arrow would reverse during a contracting phase of the Universe or inside black holes. Possible observational tests of this prediction are discussed.

  • Received 29 April 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.32.2489

©1985 American Physical Society

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This article appears in the following collection:

The Work of Stephen Hawking in Physical Review

To mark the passing of Stephen Hawking, we gathered together his 55 papers in Physical Review D and Physical Review Letters. They probe the edges of space and time, from "Black holes and thermodynamics” to "Wave function of the Universe."

Authors & Affiliations

S. W. Hawking

  • University of Cambridge, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, England

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Issue

Vol. 32, Iss. 10 — 15 November 1985

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