Calculating Time Travel & Wormhole Theories

In summary, Kip Thorne's "Time Machines" is a comprehensive and accurate book on the subject, while "Time Travel in Physics, Metaphysics, and Science Fiction" by Matt Visser is more accessible and includes more mathematics.
  • #1
imperium2600
18
0
does anyone have any equations for calculating time travel without an accelration close, equal or greater than the speed of light

or equations or theories that would help me understand traversable wormhole theories and how to calculate them
 
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  • #2
imperium2600 said:
does anyone have any equations for calculating time travel without an accelration close, equal or greater than the speed of light

or equations or theories that would help me understand traversable wormhole theories and how to calculate them


Matt Visser wrote a whole book about https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1563966530/?tag=pfamazon01-20. It's a few years old now, so it doesn't have the very latest latest, but it has all the basics, the math, the various energy conditions and all the rest. You should master what's in it if you want to read papers on the subject intelligently. But don't imagine you can just memorize some equation and calculate from it. GR, indeed all modern physics, is more complicated than that.
 
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  • #3
selfAdjoint said:
Matt Visser wrote a whole book about https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1563966530/?tag=pfamazon01-20. It's a few years old now, so it doesn't have the very latest latest, but it has all the basics, the math, the various energy conditions and all the rest. You should master what's in it if you want to read papers on the subject intelligently. But don't imagine you can just memorize some equation and calculate from it. GR, indeed all modern physics, is more complicated than that.

I really like Visser's book, and I agree that it's the best single resource for understanding the mathematical and physical details in the current literatue, but, because of these things, reading it requires substantial background knowledge.

From Visser's perface: "It would be helpful if the reader were to understand everything in all of these books. Since this is an unreasonable burden to place on even the best physicist, some attempt will be made to make the present monograph self-contained." This quote is preceded by a list of about a dozen advanced books on relativity and quantum field
theory!

Time travel via wormholes is also discussed in "Time Machines : Time Travel in Physics, Metaphysics, and Science Fiction," which is a wonderful book. This book does use a little mathematics, but at a much lower level than does Visser.

Kip Thorne wrote a foreword for the second edition of this book, and here's a quote from this foreword: "It now is not only the most complete documentation of time travel in science fiction; it is also the most thorough review of serious scientific literature on the subject - a review that, remarkably, is scientifically accurate and at the same time largely accessible to a broad audience of nonspecialists."

Regards,
George
 
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  • #4
thank you for the information

ive been reading a lot on these topics for years, and atleast a dozen times a day i have to walk away from the literature, have a cigarette and just wait for it all to make sense
so far i haven't found many books involving all the math behind it
 

1. How do you calculate the possibility of time travel using wormholes?

Calculating the possibility of time travel using wormholes is a complex process that involves understanding the principles of general relativity and quantum mechanics. Scientists use mathematical equations and theoretical models to estimate the likelihood of time travel through wormholes, but it is still a highly debated topic in the scientific community.

2. Can time travel through wormholes actually happen?

The possibility of time travel through wormholes is still a theoretical concept and has not been proven to be possible. While some scientists believe that it could be possible in the future, it is currently not feasible with our current understanding and technology.

3. How does the theory of relativity play a role in calculating time travel through wormholes?

The theory of general relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein, states that space and time are interconnected and can be manipulated by massive objects such as black holes. Wormholes are also predicted by this theory, and scientists use this understanding to calculate the possibility of time travel through them.

4. Are there any potential risks or consequences of time travel through wormholes?

The concept of time travel through wormholes is still purely theoretical, so it is difficult to determine any potential risks or consequences. However, some scientists suggest that traveling through wormholes could lead to paradoxes and disruptions in the fabric of space-time.

5. How do scientists test or experiment with time travel and wormhole theories?

Currently, there is no way to physically test or experiment with time travel and wormhole theories. Most research and calculations are done through theoretical models and simulations. Scientists also look for evidence of wormholes in space, such as gravitational lensing, to support the possibility of their existence.

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