University of Queensland
More accurate clocks and sensors may result from a recently proposed experiment, linking an Einstein-devised paradox to quantum mechanics.
University of Queensland physicist Dr Magdalena Zych said the international collaboration aimed to test Einstein’s twin paradox using quantum particles in a ‘superposition’ state.
“The twin paradox is one of the most counterintuitive predictions of relativity theory,” Dr Zych said.
“It says that time can pass at different speeds for people at different distances to an enormous mass or travelling with different velocities.
“For example, relative to a reference clock far from any massive object, a clock closer to a mass or moving at high speed will tick slower.
“This creates a ‘twin paradox’, where one of a pair of twins departs on a fast-speed journey while the other stays behind.
“When the twins reunite, the travelling twin would be much younger, as different amounts of time have passed for each of them.
“It’s a mind-blowing effect – featured in popular movies like Interstellar – but it’s also been verified by real world experiments, and is even taken into consideration in order for everyday GPS technology to work.”
The team included researchers from the University of Ulm and Leibniz University Hannover and found how one could use advanced laser technology to realise a quantum version of the Einstein’s twin paradox.
In the quantum version, rather than twins there will be only one particle travelling in a quantum superposition.
“A quantum superposition means the particle is in two locations at the same time, in each of them with some probability, and yet this is different to placing the particle in one or the other location randomly,” Dr Zych said.
“It’s another way for an object to exist, only allowed by the laws of quantum physics.
“The idea is to put one particle in superposition on two trajectories with different speeds, and see if a different amount of time passes for each of them, as in the twin paradox.
“If our understanding of quantum theory and relativity is right, when the superposed trajectories meet, the quantum traveller will be in superposition of being older and younger than itself.
“This would leave an unmistakeable signature in the results of the experiment, and that’s what we hope will be found when the experiment is realised in the future.
“It could lead to advanced technologies that will allow physicists to build more precise sensors and clocks – potentially, a key part of future navigation systems, autonomous vehicles and earthquake early-warning networks.”
The experiment itself will also answer some open questions in modern physics.
“A key example is, can time display quantum behaviour or is it fundamentally classical?” Dr Zych said.
“This question is likely crucial for the ‘holy grail’ of theoretical physics: finding a joint theory of quantum and gravitational phenomena.
“We’re looking forward to helping answer this question, and tackling many more.”
###
The research is published in Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax8966).
Is Mr. Hyde only superposition of Dr. Jekyll?
“Karlsberg October 16, 2019 at 11:27 am
Is Mr. Hyde only superposition of Dr. Jekyll”.
There’s a daily Dr. Jekyll who at night gets Mr. Hyde.
Quantum entangled particles are “ageless” whilst they are in a superposition state.
“the quantum state of each particle cannot be described independently of the state of the others, even when the particles are separated by a large distance. “
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
First, what is time? And adult could tell a child, “time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.”
In that simple statement is a profound understanding.
Time (entropy increase) spreads those things out. If we didn’t have time, you would be born and die in the same instant.
From a thermodynamics standpoint, time is the irreversible increase in entropy due to the flows of energy.
Quantum entangled particles are in state of superposition because the information about their individual states is unknown, this is von Neumann entropy, and the particles have a joint entropy.
But when the quantum entanglement collapses (decoherence), and the quantum states resolved, information is exchanged, entropy increases.
And in this experimental “relativity” setup, one particle will be “younger” and the other “older.” This is essentially an outcome that quantum information within the universe is conserved.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_information#Quantum_information_theory
“First, what is time?”
Time is an artificial frame of reference that describes the rate at which change occurs. No change, no time. Time does not exist unto itself in the same way width or depth does not exist alone, but only in reference to an object. An empty universe has no dimensions, or time.
From what I calculate (on a cocktail napkin) we do not see time advance on a beam of light, since w/r to us, it is moving at the speed of light: IOW, an event we see now, 300,000 light years away, is occurring now. However, if we send a message to a planet 40 light minutes away, and it is returned as soon as it is received, such as light being split by a prism and focused back, 80 minutes will elapse, since that planet’s speed w/r us is very slow.
So, do we ever see an object moving toward a black hole actually enter it? Most objects would miss, with the closest ones being accelerated toward the speed of light as the balancing outward Coriolis acceleration approaches the speed of light and the decreasing tidal length, l, grinds the object out of existence, releasing both a weak force and a strong force normal to the object’s motion, in a high-energy beam normal to the plane of its orbit.
I hope I didn’t change the subject to the point of being insulting.
In consideration of physics and quantum principia, Einstein happens to be the “father” of it all.
Where, Newton may happen to be the grandpa… 🙂
It is very bizarre and quite tormenting to seriously consider in the environment of science that the proposition of actually;
t=nt happens to be true. (where “t” the standard of time)
No way to directly identify or prove this condition, due and through observations or measurements,
of any kind, outside the means of Quantum modeling-experiments or Quantum modeling processes or Quantum working systems., where Quantum experimental modeling, or Quantum workable systems happen to be the only proposition for adjustment and correction to other experimental models there in science… or correction for other systems there in this latest technological evolution clause.
Regardless of anything else, the moment that instant communication, in the consideration of delta “t” in communication or signal synchronization considered as relatively zero (0) and achieved,
then the quantum process is to be considered as really engaged and true in propagation… still even when still then no a direct poof there… but still indisputably a”life”… and bizarrely productive… under the consideration.
The moment that instant communication, or instant signal synchronization achieved, the Quantum processes will have to be considered as real and true in engaging… regardless of all else there… and to be taken for granted.
That is weird and bizarre, but the moment it propagates as workable, it will happen to be accepted as normal and as a taken for granted… regardless of all else… the Quantum reality where:
t=nt will be taken for granted and indisputable, regardless of proper lack of explanation,,,
the very weirdness and tormenting of Universal condition… in science… where;
t=nt, got to be at some point really really seriously addressed.
Oh, well, again just saying… in the means of Q… 🙂
Ok, yes of course, this technically, may not make any sense at all, whatsoever, but just in the case of a free thought expression, put forward…
🙂
cheers
The biggest paradox for me was the idea of an Australian University doing something potentially useful. I kept waiting for the dogma driven punchline.
The experiment uses the proper times differences between the two branches of the matter wave. The phase of the quantum wave evolves with time, so there is a phase difference between the two branches which can be shown by interference.
I doubt this experiment’s determination of the quantum behavior of time will be fruitful. Remember:‘Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana’.
CO2 Causes catastrophic time change ! : )
There’s that old joke about the man with one clock always knowing the time, but the man with more than one clock never knows the time. Now, if the two men in question were twins and one was traveling at relativistic speeds with his entangled clocks… Oops, my GPS just started beeping; time to go!
This could also be a test that separates QED and SED. They are fundamentally different but 100 years of experiments haven’t been able to say which is right:
QED-quantum electrodynamics- the Copenhagen Interpretation based – wave superposition
SED – Stochastic electrodynamics (SED) – an extension of the de Broglie–Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics – a pilot wave controls the movement a true particles.
SED doesn’t use superposition a single particle wouldn’t experience 2 different times.
Oh, before I forget (I’m bad about such things) – THANK YOU, CTM! Paper went straight into the SF writing research folder.
Second Twin Paradox
Twin R goes into a rocket. Twin E stays on the Earth, then “starts the Earth”, make a long travel at near light speed.
Twin E and his space ship (Earth and a whole Universe except the rocket) goeas bact to twin R and “lands on the rocket”.
At that moment, twin E is younger than twin R.
shortus cynicus
October 17, 2019 at 3:44 am
==================
At that moment, twin E is younger than twin R.
—————
The above statement put as the end or the outcome result, can only be considered as possible under the quantum propagation being considered as possible,
as otherwise, in the consideration of linear random propagation not possible at all .
So, for all science and knowledge so far, outside the proposition of Quantum solution, your above statement is just non valid, or silly to contemplate at best.
The Twin paradox actually stands as a proposition in the means of Quantum, as outside it makes no sense.
In the consideration of the Twin paradox, the experiment is not even possible outside Quantum realm,
as it happens to be as impossible as one contemplating actually the possibility of traversing cosmic distances…
where the scale of all there makes even the speed of light to be considered as a very very very slow snail motion…
where without the possibility of instant communication or instant signal synchronization, that is simply impossible… as it stands!
I am sure this kinda of making no sense, but… whatever.
🙂
cheers
Gravity is not fabricated by whatever instance.
It’s there where there’s mass:
Gravity is an attribute of mass.
So everyone seeking for antigravity first has to collect antimatter.
Maybe colliding with the hicks boson:
https://www.google.com/search?q=higgs+boson+particle&oq=hicks+boson+&aqs=chrome.