Closed Timelike Curves

[ps3]

Are they real or hypothetical?

[arkain101]

If you elaborate on what you understand a "closed timelike curve" is, it will be a lot easier for people to respond and also allow for a more effective answer.

 

Help us understand what you mean by "closed timelike curves" and I can assure that many will be glad to try and help.

[maddog]

Are they real or hypothetical?

I am assuming you are thinking like the notion of "time loops" ?

 

In terms of spacetime -- this would imply where the thread of time could be in one place (same) at two different times.

 

This is different that Kip Thorne's notion of using Wormholes to "time travel".

 

Great stuff for a Star Trek episode. For reality, I am not so sure.

 

Of course I could also completely misunderstand your question altogether. :)

 

maddog

[ps3]

If you elaborate on what you understand a "closed timelike curve" is, it will be a lot easier for people to respond and also allow for a more effective answer.

 

Help us understand what you mean by "closed timelike curves" and I can assure that many will be glad to try and help.

 

i know they allow time travel,but they would violate causality and we would see all these bizzare things going on.And i read that QG or QM will prevent them from forming.

[sanctus]

i know they allow time travel,but they would violate causality and we would see all these bizzare things going on.And i read that QG or QM will prevent them from forming.

Well that is exactly the problem between GR an QM: GR allows wormholes, QM does not. Problem is: both theories perform well in their respective field, i.e. macro or microscopic.