Emergent discrete time and quantization: relativistic particle with extradimensions

Abstract

We study the reparametrization invariant system of a classical relativistic particle moving in (5+1) dimensions, of which two internal ones are compactified to form a torus. A discrete physical time is constructed based on a quasi-local invariant observable. Due to ergodicity, it is simply related to the proper time on average. The external motion in Minkowski space can then be described as a unitary quantum mechanical evolution.