Can Photons Physically Travel Backwards in Time?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Olias
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Existence Photon
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the nature of photons, their relationship with anti-matter, and the concept of time travel in relation to photons. Participants explore theoretical implications, wavefunctions, and the potential for photons to exhibit behaviors associated with time reversal. The scope includes theoretical physics and conceptual exploration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that photons are their own anti-matter particles, questioning the existence of single photons and suggesting the electromagnetic component may represent another photon.
  • There is speculation about the existence of double photon wavefunctions and their implications for understanding photon behavior.
  • One participant suggests there are three wavefunctions of the Universe, hinting at a connection to entanglement and holographic principles.
  • Another participant challenges the appropriateness of terminology regarding photons and their anti-particles, leading to a discussion about the effects of particle transformations on frequency and wavefunction.
  • Some participants explore the idea that anti-photons might relate to concepts of negative energy and dark energy, referencing experimental data and theoretical models.
  • Feynman's assertion that photons appear the same when traveling backwards in time is discussed, raising questions about whether this behavior indicates physical time travel or is merely a theoretical interpretation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of photons and their anti-particles, with no consensus reached on the implications of Feynman's statements or the existence of double photon wavefunctions. The discussion remains unresolved with competing theories and interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various theoretical models and experimental data, but there are limitations in assumptions made regarding the nature of photons and anti-photons, as well as the implications of time travel. The discussion does not resolve these complexities.

Olias
Messages
257
Reaction score
0
Photons are deemed to have their own anti-matter mirror particles (they ARE their own anti-mirror particles), does this mean that single photons do not exist? or is it that the E-M part of a photon is really the 'other' photon?

Are there such a thing as Double Photon-Wavefunctions?
 
Science news on Phys.org
Olias said:
Photons are deemed to have their own anti-matter mirror particles (they ARE their own anti-mirror particles), does this mean that single photons do not exist? or is it that the E-M part of a photon is really the 'other' photon?

Are there such a thing as Double Photon-Wavefunctions?

To e+ or not to e-, this is the question? That ole Shakespearean Quandry again. :smile:

The interactive nature of photon generation is of course steep in em considerations. So how would we not consider this interactive function in relation to red shifting and blue shifting as signatories of something else, as well?? A "means" to describe the functionability of coordinated references?
 
If someone was to ask me: how many wavefunctions of the Universe are there?, I would reply Three!

Why?..Think about it Sol..to be continued, :smile: .
 
Olias said:
If someone was to ask me: how many wavefunctions of the Universe are there?, I would reply Three!

Why?..Think about it Sol..to be continued, :smile: .

Holographically, Supposition of States(specifically GHZ entanglement)? :confused:
 
Olias said:
Photons are deemed to have their own anti-matter mirror particles (they ARE their own anti-mirror particles), does this mean that single photons do not exist? or is it that the E-M part of a photon is really the 'other' photon?

Are there such a thing as Double Photon-Wavefunctions?
No, and no. The word "have" in your first sentence is inappropriate. Turn a photon into its anti-particle and it is still the same identical particle.
 
Yes Krab, my use of "have" is inappropriate.

Would you say that a photon has the same frequency/wavefunction after the transformation by anti-particle-particle interactions?
 
Is the photon's anti-particle (anti-photon), the sum energy of Negative Light, or responsible for DarkEnergy due to a negative "Refractive Index" in certain models:
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/cond-mat/pdf/0308/0308349.pdf

For instance have produced some neat experimental data, Anti-Photons are Left-Handed, in a Left Handed Medium?..and produce some though provoking results.

It may be that Anti-Photons can be thought of as Negative Energy in 2-D cetain fields, which may be the 'invisible-Dark-Energy' in Polarized Vacuum Medium of Deep Space?..they cannot be observed just as 'Yesterday' cannot be observed.

Just for reference:http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Physics-Richard-Feynman-QED.htm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What Richard Feynman said, from the site you linked to:

And what about photons? Photons look exactly the same in all respects when they travel backwards in time, so they are their own anti-particles
 
Please do not post personal theories in any section of the site other than the Theory Development subforum. Thank you.

- Warren
 
  • #10
selfAdjoint said:
What Richard Feynman said, from the site you linked to:

Agreed!

Are they then "observable"?..I do not want ot touch upon Feynmans Path integrals, what I am real interested is this Feynma statement:Photons look exactly the same in all respects when they travel backwards in time.

Emphasis is on "when they travel backwards in time", do they physically travel backwards in time, or is this just a fact of Feynmans Path Integral intepretation?

Should not this be an 'observable' factor?
 

Similar threads

Graduate Curiosity for existence of Anti- photons?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Photon in a mirrored box moving in direction of travel
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
Graduate The reality of photons (real vs virtual etc)
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Graduate How can a photon exists on its own without a mass?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Graduate What Happens to Photons and Particles in Our Universe?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Graduate How Does MWI explain Type I PDC Photon Polarization Entanglement?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
1K
Undergrad A Snapshot in Time of a Photon
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
High School Can we say a photon doesn't exist until the wavefunction collapses?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
How Does Special Relativity Affect Photon Emission Angles?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Avalanche photon detectors
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
603