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The arrow of causality and quantum gravity

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arxiv 1908.04170 v1 pith:YVJYMX3C submitted 2019-08-12 hep-th gr-qchep-ph

classification hep-thgr-qchep-ph
keywords causalityarrowconventionsgravityquantumtheorydefinitionfield
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Causality in quantum field theory is defined by the vanishing of field commutators for space-like separations. However, this does not imply a direction for causal effects. Hidden in our conventions for quantization is a connection to the definition of an arrow of causality, i.e. what is the past and what is the future. If we mix quantization conventions within the same theory, we get a violation of microcausality. In such a theory with mixed conventions the dominant definition of the arrow of causality is determined by the stable states. In some quantum gravity theories, such as quadratic gravity and possibly asymptotic safety, such a mixed causality condition occurs. We discuss some of the implications.

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    A free conformal matter content with n1/2=4n1 and n'_0=3n1 gives a UV fixed point where all stress tensor correlators are finite; the Standard Model with right-handed neutrinos and 36 four-derivative scalars is such a theory.

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