General Covariance, Diffeomorphism Invariance, and Background Independence in 5 Dimensions

Antonio Vassallo

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arXiv · 1410.1043

General Covariance, Diffeomorphism Invariance, and Background Independence in 5 Dimensions

Antonio Vassallo

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Abstract

The paper considers the "GR-desideratum", that is, the way general relativity implements general covariance, diffeomorphism invariance, and background independence. Two cases are discussed where $5$-dimensional generalizations of general relativity run into interpretational troubles when the GR-desideratum is forced upon them. It is shown how the conceptual problems dissolve when such a desideratum is relaxed. In the end, it is suggested that a similar strategy might mitigate some major issues such as the problem of time or the embedding of quantum non-locality into relativistic spacetimes.

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Antonio Vassallo. 2015-04-10. General Covariance, Diffeomorphism Invariance, and Background Independence in 5 Dimensions. https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.1043

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