Quantum Backreaction on Chronology Horizons

Abstract: We extend in two directions our recent investigation of strongly interacting quantum fields in a class of spacetimes with chronology horizons (Misner spacetimes). First, we generalize to arbitrary dimensions the holographic mechanism of chronology protection in the absence of gravitational backreaction. The AdS geometry dual to a conformal field theory in these spacetimes shows, in every dimension, an entire separation between the bulk duals of the chronal and non-chronal regions, with the former being complete, regular geometries. In some instances the protection requires the inclusion of non-planar CFT corrections, which we obtain using double holography. Second, we compute the gravitational backreaction of the quantum fields in the Misner-AdS$_3$ spacetime, and show that the null chronology horizon turns into a strong, spacelike curvature singularity. This is one of the few controlled, explicit examples where we can see quantum effects change a Cauchy horizon into a spacelike singularity.