Does Planck time violate Lorentz-invariance

In summary, the concept of spatial discreteness does not necessarily conflict with Lorentz-invariance. While Lorentz-invariance is typically associated with continuous actions, it is possible for there to exist mathematical structures that are both discrete and obey Lorentz-invariance. This can be seen in examples such as discrete angular momentum eigenfunctions transforming into a quantum superposition under rotations. Therefore, the proposal of Planck time as the smallest interval of physical time in a theory of quantum gravity would not necessarily violate Lorentz-invariance.
  • #1
kodama
978
132
I am well aware that spatial discreteness is in conflict with Lorentz-invariance.

If there were a theory of QG that proposed Planck time as the smallest interval of physical time, would that be in conflict with Lorentz-invariance?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
kodama said:
I am well aware that spatial discreteness is in conflict with Lorentz-invariance.

If there were a theory of QG that proposed Planck time as the smallest interval of physical time, would that be in conflict with Lorentz-invariance?

Discreteness is a property of a mathematical structure. Properties by themselves do not violate Lorentz-invariance. As far as I am aware of there is no reason to believe there can't exist mathematical structures that are both discrete and obey Lorentz-invariance. Just because Lorentz-invariance has a representation of SO(1,3) which is a group of continuous actions doesn't necessarily mean there cannot exist an underlying discrete space. One can imagine, for example, having spatially discrete degrees of freedom with a continuum of rotational degrees of freedom, e.g. a complex phase.
 
  • Like
Likes kodama
  • #3
kodama said:
I am well aware that spatial discreteness is in conflict with Lorentz-invariance.

Hang on, is distrceteness of angular momentum in conflict with rotational invariance in ordinary qunatum mechanics? No, in the sense that the angular momentum operator's eigenfunctions (with discrete angular momentum eigenvalues) in one frame tramsform into a quantum superposition of the angular momentum operator's eigenfunctions in the rotated frame. It is the expectation value that transforms conitinuously under rotations.

Are eigenvectors of a length operator with disctrete eigenvalues in conflict withe Lorentz invariance? No, in the sense that length operator's eigenfunctions (with discrete length eigenvalues) in one frame tramsform into a quantum superposition of the length operator's eigenfunctions in the Lorentz transformed frame. It is the expectation value that transforms conitinuously under Lorentz transformations.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes kodama

1. What is Planck time and Lorentz-invariance?

Planck time is the unit of time in the system of natural units, named after the physicist Max Planck. It is defined as the time it would take for a photon traveling at the speed of light to cross a distance equal to the Planck length. Lorentz-invariance is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the laws of physics should remain the same for all observers moving at a constant velocity.

2. Does Planck time violate Lorentz-invariance?

No, Planck time does not violate Lorentz-invariance. In fact, it is consistent with this principle as it is a fundamental unit of time that remains the same for all observers regardless of their relative velocity.

3. What is the significance of Planck time in physics?

Planck time is significant in physics because it is considered to be the smallest meaningful unit of time. It is also used in various theories, such as the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, to describe the behavior of particles at extremely small scales.

4. Can Planck time be observed or measured?

No, Planck time is a theoretical concept and cannot be directly observed or measured. It is much smaller than any current technology can detect, making it impossible to observe or measure in practice.

5. How does the concept of Planck time relate to the concept of the Big Bang?

The concept of Planck time is closely related to the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe began as a singularity and has been expanding ever since. Planck time is used to describe the earliest moments of the universe and is crucial in understanding the fundamental laws of physics that govern the behavior of the universe at its very beginning.

Similar threads

  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
4
Replies
105
Views
10K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
2
Replies
37
Views
11K
  • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top