Is Time Quantized? Investigating the Possibility

[Wizardsblade]

So is time Quantized too?
Frequency musts be quantized. v~c/(h/2*pi) fastest velocity over the smallest distance so v~2*c*pi*n/h.

If there is a smallest frequency (1/second). Is v^-1 the smallest time unit?

 

[masudr]

In the current theory of accepted quantum mechanics, time is a continuous parameter. It enters into the equations thus:

H|\psi(t)\rangle = i\hbar \frac{\partial}{\partial t}|\psi(t)\rangle

where H is the Hamiltonian, and |\psi(t)\rangle is the state of the system at time t.

Some anticipate that a theory of quantum gravity will have some concept of quantized time (as well as space).

 

[Flatland]

I thought there was something called the Plank time?

 

[masudr]

Planck time is simply the unit of time that can be constructed from certain powers of \hbar, c\mbox{ and }G. It is an incredibly small unit of time compared to the second.

While there is no reason this unit of time should be special, it turns out that quantum corrections to general relativity will be very important at this scale of time (and the corresponding scale of space - multiply by c).

In any case, until we have a model of the universe that is valid and experimentally testable at that regime, we can only speculate. As it is, we don't have such a model.