Averaged null energy condition violation in a conformally flat spacetime

Douglas Urban and Ken D. Olum
Phys. Rev. D 81, 024039 – Published 27 January 2010

Abstract

We show that the averaged null energy condition can be violated by a conformally coupled scalar field in a conformally flat spacetime in 3+1 dimensions. The violation is dependent on the quantum state and can be made as large as desired. It does not arise from the presence of anomalies, although anomalous violations are also possible. Since all geodesics in conformally flat spacetimes are achronal, the achronal averaged null energy condition is likewise violated.

  • Received 2 November 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.81.024039

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Douglas Urban* and Ken D. Olum

  • Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA

  • *Douglas.Urban@tufts.edu
  • kdo@cosmos.phy.tufts.edu

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Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 2 — 15 January 2010

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