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The value of singularities

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Abstract

We point out that spacetime singularities play a useful role in gravitational theories by eliminating unphysical solutions. In particular, we argue that any modification of general relativity which is completely nonsingular cannot have a stable ground state. This argument applies both to classical extensions of general relativity, and to candidate quantum theories of gravity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, California, USA

    Gary T. Horowitz

  2. Department of Physics, McGill University, H3A 2T8, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Robert Myers

Authors
  1. Gary T. Horowitz
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  2. Robert Myers
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Additional information

This essay received the first award from the Gravity Research Foundation, 1995-Ed.

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Horowitz, G.T., Myers, R. The value of singularities. Gen Relat Gravit 27, 915–919 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113073

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