%0 Generic %1 tegmark1997dimensionality %A Tegmark, Max %D 1997 %K dimensionality mathematics spacetime %R 10.1088/0264-9381/14/4/002 %T On the dimensionality of spacetime %U http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9702052 %X Some 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.

@misc{tegmark1997dimensionality, abstract = {Some 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.}, added-at = {2013-12-23T11:20:50.000+0100}, author = {Tegmark, Max}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/202ab17216fed861f33aac463be447049/aeu_research}, description = {On the dimensionality of spacetime}, doi = {10.1088/0264-9381/14/4/002}, interhash = {8b57ce2e305c7b9df6d34ca263df5f76}, intrahash = {02ab17216fed861f33aac463be447049}, keywords = {dimensionality mathematics spacetime}, note = {cite arxiv:gr-qc/9702052Comment: Minor modifications to match published version. 5 pages. Color figures and related links at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~max/dimensions.html (faster from the US), from http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~max/dimensions.html (faster from Europe) or from max@ias.edu}, timestamp = {2013-12-23T11:20:50.000+0100}, title = {On the dimensionality of spacetime}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9702052}, year = 1997 }