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ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Dynamical Emergence of Lorentzian Spacetime from a Non-Spatiotemporal Quantum Many-Body Condensate

Authors: Carmen, David;

Dynamical Emergence of Lorentzian Spacetime from a Non-Spatiotemporal Quantum Many-Body Condensate

Abstract

Abstract We develop a fully background-free quantum many-body framework in which Lorentzian spacetime arises dynamically from a fundamentally non-spatiotemporal microscopic system. The fundamental degrees of freedom are quantum excitations carrying purely relational and algebraic data, with no presupposed manifold, metric, dimensionality, or causal structure, extending and unifying ideas explored in several approaches to emergent spacetime and quantum geometry. We show that in a large-, low-temperature regime the system undergoes a condensation transition into a collective hydrodynamic phase characterized by a macroscopic order parameter, analogous to condensation phenomena in quantum many-body systems but without geometric interpretation at the microscopic level. Fluctuations around this condensate are governed by an effective kinetic operator whose structure is determined by the spectral properties of microscopic correlation functions. A central result of this work is that, starting from a fully non-spatiotemporal microscopic theory, the sign structure of the condensate Hessian dynamically selects a single time-like direction, yielding a Lorentzian signature in the long-wavelength limit. This mechanism does not rely on fine-tuning, imposed causal conditions, or background spacetime assumptions, and is robust under coarse-graining, reflecting universality properties familiar from renormalization-group analyses. Beyond the emergence of Lorentzian signature, the framework naturally gives rise to additional features associated with continuum spacetime physics, including effective locality, renormalization-group flow of geometric observables, and a controlled effective field theory description at long wavelengths. While these aspects are developed here to the extent necessary to establish internal consistency, the emphasis of the present paper is on the dynamical origin of spacetime structure itself rather than on detailed phenomenological applications. This work establishes a dynamically complete route from non-spatiotemporal quantum many-body dynamics to Lorentzian spacetime and effective continuum physics, providing a unified foundation for further investigations of emergent geometry, matter, and cosmology.

Version 2 provides a substantially expanded and fully detailed derivation of the results presented in Version 1. In particular, it includes a comprehensive treatment of the underlying non-spatiotemporal quantum many-body condensate, explicit fluctuation analysis, and a more complete discussion of robustness under coarse-graining and universality. No changes are made to the core physical claims of Version 1; rather, this version supplies technical depth, intermediate steps, and clarifications to the premise provided in Version 1. The condensed Version 1 remains a concise exposition of the central ideas, while Version 2 serves as the extended derivational reference. Exclusion of Multi-Time Signatures and the Uniqueness of Lorentzian Continuum Phase (Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18839675.) Admissibility and Stability Constraints on Emergent Lorentzian Spacetime (Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18839586.)

Keywords

spacetime emergence, quantum gravity, Lorentzian signature, non-spatiotemporal physics, emergent spacetime, quantum many-body systems, condensate phase, background independence

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
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Green