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The Universal Arrow of Time is a Key for the Solution of the Basic Physical Paradoxes

Oleg Kupervasser

Published Jan 1, 2013• 8 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The modern classical statistical physics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and gravity theory are developed and well-known theories. The described theories are developed and well studied for a long time. Nevertheless, it contains a number of paradoxes. It forces many scientists to doubt internal consistency of these theories. However, the given paradoxes can be resolved within the framework of the existing physics, without introduction of new laws. Further, in this paper we discuss the paradoxes underlying classical statistical physics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and non-quantum and quantum gravities. We suggest the approaches to solution of these paradoxes on basis universal arrow of time. The first one relies on the influence of the external observer (environment), which disrupts the correlations in the system and results in time arrows alignment. The basis of the second one is the limits of self-knowledge of the system in case of the observed system; the external observer and the environment are included in the considered system. We introduce the concepts of observable dynamics, ideal dynamics, and unpredictable dynamics. We contemplate the phenomenon of complex (living) systems from the point of view of these dynamics. Perspectives of practical use of Unpredictable systems for artificial intellect are considered. c Chapter 1. The Universal Arrow of Time: Classical Mechanics. Abstract: Solution of paradox for the entropy increase in reversible systems. Statistical physics cannot explain why the thermodynamic time arrow does exist un- less very special and so it postulates unnatural initial conditions. However, we are ready to state that statistical physics is able to explain why the thermodynamic time arrow is

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The modern classical statistical physics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and gravity theory are developed and well-known theories. The described theories are developed and well studied for a long time. Nevertheless, it contains a number of paradoxes. It forces many scientists to doubt internal consistency of these theories. However, the given paradoxes can be resolved within the framework of the existing physics, without introduction of new laws. Further, in this paper we discuss the paradoxes underlying classical statistical physics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and non-quantum and quantum gravities. We suggest the approaches to solution of these paradoxes on basis universal arrow of time. The first one relies on the influence of the external observer (environment), which disrupts the correlations in the system and results in time arrows alignment. The basis of the second one is the limits of self-knowledge of the system in case of the observed system; the external observer and the environment are included in the considered system. We introduce the concepts of observable dynamics, ideal dynamics, and unpredictable dynamics. We contemplate the phenomenon of complex (living) systems from the point of view of these dynamics. Perspectives of practical use of Unpredictable systems for artificial intellect are considered. c Chapter 1. The Universal Arrow of Time: Classical Mechanics. Abstract: Solution of paradox for the entropy increase in reversible systems. Statistical physics cannot explain why the thermodynamic time arrow does exist un- less very special and so it postulates unnatural initial conditions. However, we are ready to state that statistical physics is able to explain why the thermodynamic time arrow is
This paper is a natural continuation of our previous paper arXiv:1011.4173 . We illustrated earlier that in classical Hamilton mechanics, for overwhelming majority of real chaotic macroscopic systems, alignment of their thermodynamic time arrows occurs because of their low interaction. This fact and impossibility to observe entropy decrease at introspection explain the second law of thermodynamics. The situation in quantum mechanics is even a little bit easier: all closed systems of finite volume are periodic or nearly periodic. The proof in quantum mechanics is in many respects similar to the proof in classical Hamilton mechanics - it also uses small interaction between subsystems and impossibility to observe entropy decrease at introspection. However, there are special cases which were not found in the classical mechanics. In these cases one microstate corresponds to a set of possible macrostates (more precisely, their quantum superposition). Consideration of this property with use of decoherence theory and taking into account thermodynamic time arrows will introduce new outcomes in quantum mechanics. It allows to resolve basic paradoxes of quantum mechanics: (a) to explain the paradox of wave packet reduction at measurements when an observer is included in the system (introspection) (paradox of the Schrodinger cat); (b) to explain unobservability of superposition of macroscopic states by an external observer in real experiments (paradox of Wigner's friend); (c) to prove full equivalence of multi-world and Copenhagen interpretations of quantum mechanics; (d) to explain deviations from the exponential law at decay of particles and pass from one energy level to another (paradox of a kettle which will never begin to boil).
Abstract Quantum mechanics for describing the behavior of microscopic entities and thermodynamics for describing macroscopic systems exhibit separate time concepts. Whereas many theories of modern physics interpret processes as reversible, in thermodynamics, an expression for irreversibility and the so-called time arrow has been developed: the increase of entropy. The divergence between complete reversibility on the one hand and irreversibility on the other is called the paradox of time. Since more than hundred years many efforts have been devoted to unify the time concepts. So far, the efforts were not successful. In this paper a solution is proposed on the basis of matter-energy equivalence with an energetic distinction between matter and mass. By refraining from interpretations predominant in modern theoretical physics, the first and second laws of thermodynamics can be extended to fundamental laws of nature, which are also valid at quantum level.
The paper discusses the basic paradoxes of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. The approaches to solution of these paradoxes are suggested. The first one relies on the influence of the external observer (environment), which disrupts the correlations in the system. The second one is based on the limits of self-knowledge of the system in case of both the external observer and the environment is included in the considered system. The concepts of Real Dynamics, Ideal Dynamics, and Unpredictable dynamics are introduced. The phenomenon of Life is contemplated from the point of view of these Dynamics.
Statistical classical mechanics and quantum mechanics are developed and well-known theories that represent a basis for modern physics. Statistical classical mechanics enable the derivation of the properties of large bodies by investigating the movements of small atoms and molecules which comprise these bodies using Newton's classical laws. Quantum mechanics defines the laws of movement of small particles at small atomic distances by considering them as probability waves. The laws of quantum mechanics are described by the Schrödinger equation. The laws of such movements are significantly different from the laws of movement of large bodies, such as planets or stones. The two described theories are well known and have been well studied. As these theories contain numerous paradoxes, many scientists doubt their internal consistencies. However, these paradoxes can be resolved within the framework of the existing physics without the introduction of new laws. To clarify the paper for the inexperienced reader, we include certain necessary basic concepts of statistical physics and quantum mechanics in this paper without the use of formulas. Exact formulas and explanations are included in the Appendices. The text is supplemented by illustrations to enhance the understanding of the paper. The paradoxes underlying thermodynamics and quantum mechanics are also discussed. The approaches to the solutions of these paradoxes are suggested. The first approach is dependent on the influence of the external observer (environment), which disrupts the correlations in the system. The second approach is based on the limits of the self-knowledge of the system for the case in which both the external observer and the environment are included in the considered system. The concepts of observable dynamics, ideal dynamics, and unpredictable dynamics are introduced. The phenomenon of complex (living) systems is contemplated from the point of view of these dynamics.
I give an explanation of the thermodynamic arrow-of-time (namely entropy increases with time) within a quantum mechanical framework. This entails giving a solution to the Loschmidt paradox, i.e. showing how an irreversible macro-dynamics can arise from a reversible micro-dynamics. I argue that, in accordance to the reversible dynamics, both entropy-increasing and entropy-decreasing transformations take place, but entropy-decreasing transformations cannot leave any information of their having happened. This is indistinguishable from their not having happened at all. The second law of thermodynamics is then reduced to a tautology: the only transformations that can be seen are those where entropy does not decrease. However, typicality arguments seem to prevent this argument to be used as a complete solution to the arrow-of-time dilemma: it might still be necessary to postulate a low entropy initial state for the system under consideration.
This work investigates the fundamental connection between quantum mechanics and thermodynamics through the concept of the arrow of time. While the second law of thermodynamics identifies the arrow of time with the monotonic increase of entropy in isolated systems, closed quantum systems evolve unitarily and conserve von Neumann entropy, making the origin of irreversibility less apparent. Here we establish a no-go theorem proving that correlations in unknown states of closed quantum systems cannot be universally removed by any physical operation. This result demonstrates that correlation generation is inherently irreversible, providing a microscopic and universal basis for the arrow of time. In thermodynamic settings, this irreversibility ensures that heat flows spontaneously from hotter to colder subsystems, reproducing the Clausius formulation of the second law. More generally, the irreversible growth of correlations explains entropy increase, the approach to equilibrium, and decoherence as observable manifestations of the same principle. Our findings ground a quantum-mechanical foundation for the second law of thermodynamics and demonstrate the universality of the arrow of time.