Physical cosmic strings do not generate closed timelike curves

S. Deser; R. Jackiw; G. ’t Hooft

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.267

Physical cosmic strings do not generate closed timelike curves

S. Deser, R. Jackiw, and G. ’t Hooft

Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 267 – Published 20 January 1992

Abstract

We reexamine the causal properties of geometries generated by parallel, moving cosmic strings, particularly our statement that closed timelike curves are forbidden there. Contrary to a recent claim, such acausal behavior cannot be realized by physical, timelike, sources.

Received 21 August 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.267

Authors & Affiliations

S. Deser

Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254

R. Jackiw

Center for Theoretical Physics, Laboratory for Nuclear Science Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institue of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

G. ’t Hooft