Based on the hypothesis that the thermodynamic arrow of time is an emergent phenomenon of quantum state complexity evolution, we further propose that the natural pace of time flow is proportional to the changing rate of quantum state complexity. we then testify how the pace of time flow changes under both special and general relativity based on the analogy between qubit quantum operations and Lorentz transformations. Our simulation results show a qualitative consistency between our hypothesis and the time dilation effect of relativity. We also checked the relationship between our idea on time with the thermal time hypothesis and we showed that our idea can be regarded as a natural generalization of the thermal time hypothesis.
Based on the hypothesis that the thermodynamic arrow of time is an emergent phenomenon of quantum state complexity evolution, we further propose that the natural pace of time flow is proportional to the changing rate of quantum state complexity. we then testify how the pace of time flow changes under both special and general relativity based on the analogy between qubit quantum operations and Lorentz transformations. Our simulation results show a qualitative consistency between our hypothesis and the time dilation effect of relativity. We also checked the relationship between our idea on time with the thermal time hypothesis and we showed that our idea can be regarded as a natural generalization of the thermal time hypothesis.
Why time is a one-way corridor? What's the origin of the arrow of time? We attribute the thermodynamic arrow of time as the direction of increasing quantum state complexity. Inspired by the work of Nielsen, Susskind and Micadei, we checked this hypothesis on both a simple two qubit and a three qubit quantum system. The result shows that in the two qubit system, the thermodynamic arrow of time always points in the direction of increasing quantum state complexity. For the three qubit system, the heat flow pattern among subsystems is closely correlated with the quantum state complexity of the subsystems. We propose that besides its impact on macroscopic spatial geometry, quantum state complexity might also generate the thermodynamic arrow of time.
This work explores the hypothesis that time is an emergent phenomenon arising from underlying quantum informational processes. By integrating principles from quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and general relativity, we develop a comprehensive framework that elucidates the relationship between quantum complexity, entanglement, and the nature of time. We investigate the role of quantum complexity in the evolution of quantum states and demonstrate how the increase in entanglement entropy provides a microscopic basis for the arrow of time. Using the AdS/CFT correspondence and the holographic principle, we establish connections between spacetime geometry and quantum informational measures like entanglement entropy. We address the black hole information paradox within this context, arguing that information is preserved in a highly scrambled form. Additionally, we propose an experimental design using black hole analogues to empirically validate our theoretical predictions, focusing on fast scrambling and the growth of quantum complexity. Our findings suggest that quantum informational dynamics govern the emergence of time and spacetime geometry. This work bridges quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, information theory, and general relativity, offering potential applications in quantum technologies and new insights into the fundamental nature of reality.
The concept of time presents a profound challenge at the intersection of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. While fundamental microscopic laws are largely time-symmetric, macroscopic phenomena universally exhibit a distinct thermodynamic arrow of time, characterized by increasing entropy. This paper explores the hypothesis that quantum entanglement plays a crucial role in the emergence of this thermodynamic arrow. We review how the entanglement between a quantum system and its environment leads to decoherence, effectively driving the system towards a state of higher entropy and classical-like behavior. By analyzing concepts such as von Neumann entropy, entanglement entropy, and the Page-Wootters mechanism, we propose a theoretical framework where the degradation and spreading of entanglement act as the underlying mechanism for the perceived unidirectional flow of time. This approach offers a potential resolution to the "problem of time" in quantum gravity and provides a unified perspective on the genesis of irreversibility from the inherently reversible laws of quantum mechanics. We discuss the implications of this entanglement-driven temporal emergence for our understanding of the universe's initial low-entropy state and the fundamental nature of reality.
Quantum mechanics and general relativity have been very successful in their respective domains for understanding and predicting physical phenomena. The two theories differ in their perspectives on time, with relativistic time flowing at different rates for different observers but time in a quantum system flowing in a fixed spacetime. Experiments on the nature of time to probe this difference have shown there is a flow of time in a quantum system that is not detectable by a classical clock outside the quantum system. Accordingly, we generalize the concept of time to include the flow of time in both classical and quantum systems, and investigate whether the concept of “generalized time” has any explanatory or predictive value. We find that generalized time provides an explanation for quantum entanglement that is causal without violating the speed of light, provides insight regarding collapse of the wave function in a quantum system, provides a simple intuitive perspective to understand time dilation and length contraction in special relativity, resolves the black hole information paradox, and enables a physical model that explains cosmic inflation. CPT symmetry coupled with generalized time explains why time goes backwards for antiparticles in Feynman diagrams and why there is more matter than antimatter in the Universe, leads to a model of the Big Bang that explains some observed anisotropies in the Universe, and potentially explains CP violations observed in kaons and other particles. Models based on generalized time make testable predictions for laboratory and cosmological measurements.
Abstract Based on the hypothesis that the (non-reversible) arrow of time is intrinsic in any system, no matter how small, the consequences are discussed. Within the framework of local quantum physics it is shown how such a semi-group action of time can consistently be extended to that of the group of spacetime translations in Minkowski space. In presence of massless excitations, however, there arise ambiguities in the theoretical extensions of the time translations to the past. The corresponding loss of quantum information on states upon time is determined. Finally, it is explained how the description of operations in classical terms combined with constraints imposed by the arrow of time leads to a quantum theoretical framework. These results suggest that the arrow of time is fundamental in nature and not merely a consequence of statistical effects on which the Second Law is based.
Time has always been a fundamental yet enigmatic concept in physics. From the arrow of time in thermodynamics to the timeless nature of quantum mechanics, understanding time's essence has challenged the foundations of modern physics. In this paper, we propose a novel interpretation of time in quantum mechanics, distinguishing between real time as observable events (wave function collapse or address changes) and imaginary time as the continuous evolution of the quantum state. By connecting this framework with the holographic principle, we aim to provide insights into the nature of time, its arrow, and its relationship with quantum mechanics. Keywords Thermodynamics; Wave function; Quantum mechanics; Holographic principle