1996/04/19 by V. A. Rubakov, O. Yu. Shvedov · 3 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Amplitude #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Computer science #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Einstein #Euclidean distance #Euclidean geometry #Geometry #Instability #Interpretation (philosophy) #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Mode (computer interface) #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Physics #Quantum #Quantum gravity #Quantum mechanics #Theoretical physics #Topology (electrical circuits) #Universe #Wormhole #gr-qc #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/0370-2693(96)00766-6
published as Phys.Lett. B383 (1996) 258-261 · 9 pages in LaTeX, 1 figure in PostScript
arxiv created 1996/04/19 · openalex publication_date 1996/09/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Wormholes -- solutions to the euclidean Einstein equations with non-trivial topology -- are usually assumed to make real contributions to amplitudes in quantum gravity. However, we find a negative mode among fluctuations about the Giddings-Strominger wormhole solution. Hence, the wormhole contribution to the euclidean functional integral is argued to be purely imaginary rather than real, which suggests the interpretation of the wormhole as describing the instability of a large universe against the emission of baby universes.