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We distinguish two different concepts of time that play a role in physics: \textit{geometric time} and \textit{creative time}. The former is the time of deterministic physics and merely parametrizes a given evolution. The latter is instead…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2026-02-10 Flavio Del Santo , Nicolas Gisin

We propose a new point of view regarding the problem of time in quantum mechanics, based on the idea of replacing the usual time operator $\mathbf{T}$ with a suitable real-valued function $T$ on the space of physical states. The proper…

It is rarely emphasized in modern physics textbooks that our definitions of space and time have to reflect their complete interdependence. Our intuitive methods of always picturing one-dimensional space as a sum of unit-length rods and of…

General Physics · Physics 2008-07-03 Ibrahim M. Al Abdulmohsin

It is postulated there is not a precise static instant in time underlying a dynamical physical process at which the relative position of a body in relative motion or a specific physical magnitude would theoretically be precisely determined.…

General Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Peter Lynds

The nature of time has beguiled philosophers for nearly three millennia. There are myriad types of time including cosmological time, biological time, psychological time, physical time, historical time, and even theological time. My brief…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2021-07-20 Stephen Boughn

Based on the consideration of naturalness and physical facts in Einstein's theories of relativity, a nontrivial spacetime physical picture, which has a slight difference from the standard one, is introduced by making a further distinction…

High Energy Physics - Theory · Physics 2016-01-27 ChiYi Chen

Physics takes for granted that interacting physical systems with no common history are independent, before their interaction. This principle is time-asymmetric, for no such restriction applies to systems with no common future, after an…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Huw Price

Recent analysis suggests that the classical dynamics of a tachyon on an unstable D-brane is described by a scalar Born-Infeld type action with a runaway potential. The classical configurations in this theory at late time are in one to one…

High Energy Physics - Theory · Physics 2009-09-15 Ashoke Sen

Space-Time in general relativity is a dynamical entity because it is subject to the Einstein field equations. The space-time metric provides different geometrical structures: conformal, volume, projective and linear connection. A deep…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2008-11-26 Ignacio Sanchez-Rodriguez

Space and time are central concepts for understanding our World. They are important ingredients at the core of every scientific theory and subject of intense debate in philosophy. Albert Einstein's Special and General theories of Relativity…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2021-08-06 Luciano Combi

In this essay, we argue that the problem of time should not be regarded as an issue to be resolved within the prevailing framework for studying quantum gravity, but rather as an indication that there is an issue within the framework itself.…

High Energy Physics - Theory · Physics 2025-04-02 Marc S. Klinger , Robert G. Leigh

Space-time is one of the most essential, yet most mysterious concepts in physics. In quantum mechanics it is common to understand time as a marker of instances of evolution and define states around all the space but at one time; while in…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2020-12-01 Tian Zhang , Oscar Dahlsten , Vlatko Vedral

We investigate the origin of the arrow of time in quantum mechanics in the context of quantum cosmology. The ``Copenhagen'' quantum mechanics of measured subsystems incorporates a fundamental arrow of time. Extending discussions of…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2009-09-25 Murray Gell-Mann , James B. Hartle

From the Physics point of view, time is now best described through General Relativity, as part of space-time which is a dynamical object encoding gravity. Time possesses also some intrinsic irreversibility due to thermodynamics, quantum…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2009-03-30 Florian Girelli , Stefano Liberati , Lorenzo Sindoni

We propose a possible answer to one of the most exciting open questions in physics and cosmology, that is the question why we seem to experience four- dimensional space-time with three ordinary and one time dimensions. We have known for…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2008-11-26 N. Mankoc Borstnik , H. B. Nielsen

Time is, figuratively and literally, becoming the new dimension for crystalline matter. As such, rapid recent progress on time-varying media gave rise to the notion of temporal and spatiotemporal crystals. Fundamentally rethinking the role…

The fact that in Minkowski space, space and time are both quantized does not have to be introduced as a new postulate in physics, but can actually be derived by combining certain features of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. This is…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2007-05-23 G. 't Hooft

In [1], the authors have studied stability of certain causal properties of space-times in general relativity. As a continuation of this work, in the present paper, we review and discuss, some more aspects of stability which occur in various…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2017-09-14 R V Saraykar , Sujatha Janardhan

In this paper I suggest a possible explanation for the asymmetry of time. In the case that I study, the dynamical laws and the boundary conditions are symmetric, but the behavior of time is not. The underlying mechanism is statistical and…

General Physics · Physics 2014-07-23 Martin Tamm

A mathematical definition of classical causality over discrete spacetime dynamics is formulated. The approach is background free and permits a definition of causality in a precise way whenever the spacetime dynamics permits. It gives a…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2007-05-23 George Jaroszkiewicz