Bruce,

In the original form of string theory, the 26-d version, there are 2 time dimensions (Learned that from the Witten, Schwarz, Green book). Using ordinary complex variable theory to represent these 2 dimensions, one would be real and the other imaginary. Does not matter which is real. IT's just a way to represent 2 dimensions.

Now I believe you may be hearing this for the first time on this forum. But it occurs to me that Hawking's imaginary time and the beginning of his real time universe may in some small way support the initiation of a new universe from a 26-d unified field in which time can be both real and imaginary.

I am of the opinion that the universe has 26 dimensions. That seems to be a minority view in physics these days. Bruce, assuming that you are still a student, PhD student I also presume, would you try this idea (Hawking time/26-D universe) out on your professors (you once previously mentioned doing so in a post on my esoteric stuff).

Regards, Richard