Emergent time - emergent space?

In summary, Lee Smolin suggests that space and time are both emergent, and that this may be a non-perturbative definition of quantum gravity.
  • #1
Bojan Keevill
24
1
Hello all,

In 2009, I had clumsily posed a question to these forums, regarding the objectivity of time.
In 2012, I had posted a short piece of writing, clumsily suggesting that three dimensional space is an emergent property of interactions between virtual point-particles.
Last year, my attention was drawn to this article, suggesting that time is an emergent property.

I now return to these forums, in order to ask you, the physics community, whether you assume the Moreva et al article (posted above) to be of relevant value to physics?

If you accept time as an emergent phenomenon of particle interactions (correlations), then should space not also be accepted as an emergent phenomenon of particle interactions?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes Doug Huffman
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Lee Smolin is advancing your suggestion in his later writings and he regularly cites Charles Sanders Peirce. If I understand aright, space is emergent, defined by the relations among the present particles, while time is fundamental. I believe that the topic sails under the flag of background-independent physics. Do an author search for Smolin at arXiv and read through his and his major co-authors' papers. His Temporal Naturalism is good.

Beware, though, attacking conventional wisdom is not always well received. That extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence is tough to satisfy in a field sparse of Popperian falsifiability.

Somewhere there is an argument for the speed of light in a vacuum being due to the low particle density minimizing the relations effecting the space but affecting and extending the time required to that needed for establishing the relations among those few particles.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
Sure time may be an emergent property - or not, space may be an emergent property - or not.

Science is all about putting forth conjectures and seeing where they lead.

The thing though is in science the conjectures must be TESTABLE.

If not you end up with philosophy which is notorious for never reaching any actual conclusions.

Thanks
Bill
 
  • #4
That is precisely the issue with the Standard Models. They are well and truly verified while sparsely falsifiable.
 
  • #5
A specific conjecture for a quantum theory with emergent space is Maldacena's gauge/gravity duality or AdS/CFT. This conjecture probably does not describe our universe, but it is potentially a non-perturbative definition of a quantum gravity theory, and it is hoped that understanding it will help us make progress. However, time (so far) seems not emergent in that conjecture.

http://www.pma.caltech.edu/~physlab/ph10_references/scientificamerican1105-56.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:

1. What is the concept of emergent time - emergent space?

Emergent time - emergent space is a scientific theory that suggests time and space are not fixed entities, but rather emerge from a more fundamental level of reality. It proposes that the universe is constantly creating and evolving itself through the emergence of time and space.

2. How does emergent time - emergent space differ from traditional theories of time and space?

Traditional theories of time and space view them as absolute and fixed, while emergent time - emergent space suggests that they are emergent phenomena that arise from a deeper level of reality. This theory challenges our understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe and how it operates.

3. What evidence supports the theory of emergent time - emergent space?

There is no direct evidence for emergent time - emergent space, as it is a theoretical concept. However, there are several phenomena in physics, such as quantum entanglement and the holographic principle, that suggest a fundamental level of reality that could give rise to time and space.

4. How does emergent time - emergent space relate to the concept of spacetime?

Spacetime is a concept that combines the three dimensions of space with the dimension of time. Emergent time - emergent space suggests that time and space are not separate entities, but rather emerge together from a more fundamental level of reality. Therefore, it challenges the traditional understanding of spacetime as a fixed structure.

5. What potential implications does the theory of emergent time - emergent space have?

If this theory is proven to be true, it could revolutionize our understanding of the universe and open up new avenues for scientific exploration. It could also have implications for fields such as cosmology, quantum mechanics, and the search for a theory of everything.

Similar threads

I Quantum decoherence and the emergence of space/time and gravity
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
17
Views
813
A Quantum superposition: Is a problem of space-time worldview?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
599
A What it is the internal space?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
897
I Unruh, Haag et al.: No Room for Particles in Quantum Field Theory?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
12
Views
2K
B Time Crystals & Spin: Engineering a New Reality?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
840
A concept of time with the future as an emergent property
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
7
Views
1K
I Emergent space-time from what?
    • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
32
Views
6K
B Is Time Emerging? Physicists' Experiments & Many-Worlds Interpretation
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Bell's theorem claimed to be refuted - paper published by EPL
    • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
50
Views
4K
I Cosmological principle about space and time
    • Cosmology
Replies
20
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top