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Re-evaluating Space-Time

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Time in Physics

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Abstract

Special relativity inspired a fundamental shift in our picture of reality, from a spatial state evolving in time to a static block universe. We will highlight some conceptual issues raised by the block universe viewpoint, particularly concerning its complexity, causality, and connection to quantum theory. In light of these issues, and inspired by recent results showing that relativity can emerge naturally in discrete space-time dynamics, we will explore whether the evolving state picture might be more natural after all.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that this differs from Kolmogorov complexity [3], which only captures compressibility. The Kolmogorov complexity would generally be small for a block-universe as one could write a compact program to generate it by iterating the physical laws on the initial state.

  2. 2.

    The idea of retrocausality can be helpful in explaining quantum effects, particularly in cases involving post-selection, such as in the two-state vector formalism [16]. However, a standard causal explanation is also possible. There are also interesting recent results on quantum causal models [17].

  3. 3.

    A similar alternative is the ‘moving spotlight’ view of time. In this picture the entire block universe exists, but in addition a particular spatial slice representing an objective present is ’highlighted’, and this highlight evolves up the block universe. However, this view seems to suffer from almost all of the disadvantages of the block universe, as well as those of a preferred frame.

  4. 4.

    Or more generally that operators localised in a spatial region only evolve into operators on a slightly larger region.

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Acknowledgements

AJS acknowledges support from the FQXi ‘Physics of What Happens’ grant program, via the SVCF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK

    A. J. Short

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  1. A. J. Short
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Correspondence to A. J. Short .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Renato Renner

  2. Institute for Theoretical Physics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sandra Stupar

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Short, A.J. (2017). Re-evaluating Space-Time. In: Renner, R., Stupar, S. (eds) Time in Physics. Tutorials, Schools, and Workshops in the Mathematical Sciences . Birkhäuser, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68655-4_4

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