THE THEORY OF TIME IS DEPENDENT ON A QUANTUM MECHANICS THEORY OF GRAVITY
Many theoretical physicists belief that a complete theory of time is contingent upon finding a quantum definition of gravity, which will lead to the Theory of Everything, the Final Theory, the Universal Theory: the reputed theory of theoretical physics that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena. The primary problem in producing a Theory of Everything is that general relativity and quantum mechanics are hard to unify – the theory of gravity works in the macro (the world we see around us), but does not hold true in the micro world of quantum mechanics. This is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics today and the solution depends on a greater understanding of gravity.
Accordingly, our search for the theory of time is inextricably linked with two other central questions facing physics today:
- Grand Unified Theory, (GUT) and
- Theory of Everything (ToE) or Final Theory
Defining the GUT will lead to the ToE, which will provide a foundation for The Theory of Time.
A Grand Unified Theory (GUT) merges three of the four fundamental forces of nature – the electromagnetic and the weak and strong nuclear forces.
- Electromagnetism is pervasive in daily life – we see it and use the forces constantly. Additionally, the earth itself produces electromagnetic fields that protects life itself from the harmful rays from the sun.
- The weak nuclear force is responsible for radioactivity and decay. The weak interaction finds practical application in the radioactive elements used in medicine and technology, which are in general beta-radioactive, and in the beta-decay of a carbon isotope into nitrogen. At “long” distances, approximately the width of a proton, the weak charge looks smaller because of quantum fluctuations in the vacuum.
- In particle physics, the strong interaction (also called the strong force, or the strong nuclear force) is one of the fundamental interactions of nature and is the strongest of the four fundamental forces of nature; but it only has a very short range – a length equal to one quadrillionth of a meter. It is the force that holds the nucleus of an atom together.
Combining GUT with gravity, the last of the four forces, will produce the long sought after Theory of Everything (ToE), which is theorized to produce a complete explanation of the forces in the universe. While this sounds simple, the solution has eluded physicists for nearly 100 years since Einstein presented the general theory of relativity in 1915.
- Newton’s theory of gravitation accurately predicts the motion of bodies in the macro – the world we see around us (ie.. apples falling from a tree). HOWEVER, general relativity is incompatible with quantum mechanics. Gravity, pursuant to the general theory of relativity by Einstein, is a consequence of the curvature of Space-time, and provides an accurate approximation for gravity in most physical situations. However theories of quantum gravity do not work in the micro world. We currently do not have a theory for gravitation that works in the micro world of quantum mechanics.
So we are stymied inbetween the quest for a unifying principle of gravity that thrives in the macro world of general relativity and simultaneously resolves the inherent “weirdness” of gravity’s role in the microscopic realm of quantum mechanics.
Finally, we arrive back to the central question, the pebble in my shoe: how can we find a path that will lead us to the Theory of Time.
- If I were Newton and could create calculus, we might use math to define the Theory of Time. Such as: Input
produces output
I
-
-
-
then and
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- If I were Einstein and could postulate the workings of the universe as a thought experiment, we might use relativity – general or special – to define the Theory of Time using “light cones” (see below – we will utilize the concept later)
However, if I had the intellect of Newton or Einstein, I would have resolved The Theory of Time before my sixteenth birthday and there would be no need for this blog. Being a man whose curiosity greatly exceeds his intellect; we will continue to toil among these big questions with few answers.