Principle of event symmetry
Abstract
To accommodate topology change, the symmetry of space-time must be extended from the diffeomorphism group of a manifold to the symmetric group acting on the discrete set of space-time events. This is the principle of event-symmetric space-time. I investigate a number of physical toy models with this symmetry to gain some insight into the likely nature of event-symmetric space-time. In the more advanced models the symmetric group is embedded into larger structures such as matrix groups which provide scope to unify space-time symmetry with the internal gauge symmetries of particle physics. I also suggest that the symmetric group of space-time could be related to the symmetric group acting to exchange identical particles, implying a unification of space-time and matter. I end with a definition of a new type of loop symmetry which is important in event-symmetric superstring theory.
- Publication:
-
International Journal of Theoretical Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02302403
- Bibcode:
- 1996IJTP...35.1037G