Quantum time

[Tayla]

I recently learned time and space are quantized. For space this implies, I think, particles don't move smoothly and contiguously; rather, they jump. The same for time: the universe is like a motion picture having frames, each being a brief flash.

To ponder: Is it possible the entire universe springs into existence a trillion trillion trillion times a second. Then, it disappears completely, only to reappear a trillion trillion trillionth of a second later?

 

[Strathos]

I suppose that's one way of looking at it.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

I recently learned time and space are quantized. For space this implies, I think, particles don't move smoothly and contiguously; rather, they jump. The same for time: the universe is like a motion picture having frames, each being a brief flash.

This seems likely, but isn't yet demonstrably certain.

To ponder: Is it possible the entire universe springs into existence a trillion trillion trillion times a second. Then, it disappears completely, only to reappear a trillion trillion trillionth of a second later?

No; as I understand it, under such a theoretical regime it's present continuously, but interactions have a minimum spatial and temporal separation; between interactions, particle locations in time and space are indefinite.

 

[SkyWriting]

I recently learned time and space are quantized. For space this implies, I think, particles don't move smoothly and contiguously; rather, they jump. The same for time: the universe is like a motion picture having frames, each being a brief flash.

To ponder: Is it possible the entire universe springs into existence a trillion trillion trillion times a second. Then, it disappears completely, only to reappear a trillion trillion trillionth of a second later?

I tried to read your post, but it was gone before I finished reading it.
So I guess so.

 

[Neogaia777]

I recently learned time and space are quantized. For space this implies, I think, particles don't move smoothly and contiguously; rather, they jump. The same for time: the universe is like a motion picture having frames, each being a brief flash.

To ponder: Is it possible the entire universe springs into existence a trillion trillion trillion times a second. Then, it disappears completely, only to reappear a trillion trillion trillionth of a second later?

Where do they go...?

 

[Tayla]

between interactions, particle locations in time and space are indefinite.

Thank you for sharing your comments.

Perhaps their locations are indefinite because they cannot be measured because they don't exist.

Anyway, it's just a thought.

 

[Tayla]

Where do they go...?

Thank you for you thoughtful question.

My answer: poof... gone.

 

[Tayla]

I tried to read your post, but it was gone before I finished reading it.

You gotta be quick...

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Perhaps their locations are indefinite because they cannot be measured because they don't exist.

It's not that they don't exist, but that they simply don't have definite position or momentum properties. You could say they don't really exist as particles.

What we call fundamental particles are best modeled as excitations of quantum fields, they only look like particles in particular circumstances, e.g. when they interact with their surroundings in certain ways that we can detect, we can interpret their behaviour in those circumstances as particle-like. The best description of how they behave is given by the Schroedinger wave function, which tells you the probability of seeing a particular outcome of some observation or measurement.

The quantum world is very different and follows some very different and counter-intuitive rules from what we experience in our lofty macro scale world; it's fair to say it's a different kind of reality from which our apparently solid and deterministic world and its rules is emergent at macro scales.

 

[Tayla]

It's not that they don't exist, but that they simply don't have definite position or momentum properties. You could say they don't really exist as particles.

What we call fundamental particles are best modeled as excitations of quantum fields, they only look like particles in particular circumstances, e.g. when they interact with their surroundings in certain ways that we can detect, we can interpret their behaviour in those circumstances as particle-like. The best description of how they behave is given by the Schroedinger wave function, which tells you the probability of seeing a particular outcome of some observation or measurement.

The quantum world is very different and follows some very different and counter-intuitive rules from what we experience in our lofty macro scale world; it's fair to say it's a different kind of reality from which our apparently solid and deterministic world and its rules is emergent at macro scales.

Thank you for your succinct overview of quantum mechanics.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Thank you for your succinct overview of quantum mechanics.

You're welcome; and I'm sure any errors I made will be corrected by better informed posters