Max Tegmark 1997 Class. Quantum Grav. 14 L69 doi:10.1088/0264-9381/14/4/002
Max Tegmark
Show affiliationsSome superstring theories have more than one effective low-energy limit corresponding to classical spacetimes with different dimensionalities. We argue that all but the (3 + 1)-dimensional one might correspond to `dead worlds', devoid of observers, in which case all such ensemble theories would actually predict that we should find ourselves inhabiting a (3 + 1)-dimensional spacetime. With more or less than one time dimension, the partial differential equations of nature would lack the hyperbolicity property that enables observers to make predictions. In a space with more than three dimensions, there can be no traditional atoms and perhaps no stable structures. A space with less than three dimensions allows no gravitational force and may be too simple and barren to contain observers.
04.20.Gz Spacetime topology, causal structure, spinor structure
35Jxx Partial differential equations of elliptic type (See also 58J10, 58J20)
Issue 4 (April 1997)
Received 10 February 1997
Max Tegmark 1997 Class. Quantum Grav. 14 L69
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