Time's arrow and external perturbations

Francesco Mappa

J P Connerade

In Classical Mechanics, time is reversible, i.e. implies no particular choice: only the observer knows in which direction it flows. The present Comment re-examines whether this remains true in Quantum Mechanics. In the context of Atomic Physics, it is concluded that the existence of an arrow of time depends on the manner in which the radiation field is introduced, which must be non-perturbative.

Gerald F. Thomas

Oleg Kupervasser

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

Sheldon Goldstein, Roderich Tumulka

We present a quantum model for the motion of N point particles, implying nonlocal (i.e., superluminal) influences of external fields on the trajectories, that is nonetheless fully relativistic. In contrast to other models that have been proposed, this one involves no additional spacetime structure as would be provided by a (possibly dynamical) foliation of spacetime. This is achieved through the interplay of opposite microcausal and macrocausal (i.e., thermodynamic) arrows of time.

Henry Krips