Could Space-Time Curvature Enable Time Loops?

[petrushkagoogol]

If space-time is curved like a klein bottle, is it theoretically possible that events could loop back in time ?

 

[FactChecker]

That is a big "if". Assuming it is like a Klein bottle, then it will loop back in every dimension. I wouldn't think too hard about it till there is some evidence.

 

[rootone]

Well in principle there could be a time loop just by having more time dimensions than one.
No need for anything as complicated as a Klein bottle topology.
However in reality we only observe one dimension of time and there is no reason to suspect more.

 

[PeterDonis]

in principle there could be a time loop just by having more time dimensions than one.

This is not necessary; there are spacetimes with the usual metric signature (one timelike and three spacelike dimensions) which have closed timelike curves. The Godel spacetime is one; the deep interior (inside the inner horizon) of Kerr spacetime is another.

 

[rootone]

This is not necessary; there are spacetimes with the usual metric signature (one timelike and three spacelike dimensions) which have closed timelike curves. The Godel spacetime is one; the deep interior (inside the inner horizon) of Kerr spacetime is another.

Thanks, I suspected this could be the case, I'll look into the examples you mentioned.