In Newtonian physics, the equation of motion is invariant when the direction of time (t→−t) is flipped. However, in quantum physics, flipping the direction of time changes the sign of the Schrödinger equation. An anti-unitary operator is needed to restore time reversal in quantum physics, but this is at the cost of not having a consistent definition of time reversal applicable to all fundamental theories. On the other hand, a quantum system composed of a pair of entangled particles behaves in such a manner that when the state of one particle is measured, the second particle ‘simultaneously’ acquires a determinate state. A notion of absolute simultaneity seems to be inferred by quantum mechanics, even though it is forbidden by the postulates of relativity. We aim to point out that the above two problems can be overcome if the wavefunction is defined with respect to proper time, which in fact is the real physical time instead of ordinary time.
In Newtonian physics, the equation of motion is invariant when the direction of time (t→−t) is flipped. However, in quantum physics, flipping the direction of time changes the sign of the Schrödinger equation. An anti-unitary operator is needed to restore time reversal in quantum physics, but this is at the cost of not having a consistent definition of time reversal applicable to all fundamental theories. On the other hand, a quantum system composed of a pair of entangled particles behaves in such a manner that when the state of one particle is measured, the second particle ‘simultaneously’ acquires a determinate state. A notion of absolute simultaneity seems to be inferred by quantum mechanics, even though it is forbidden by the postulates of relativity. We aim to point out that the above two problems can be overcome if the wavefunction is defined with respect to proper time, which in fact is the real physical time instead of ordinary time.
Time is used in non-relativistic quantum theory as a classical concept. On the one hand, time is the parameter entering Schrödinger's equation and measured by an external laboratory clock. But it could be considered that time also plays the role of an observable when a given event occurs (e.g., when a particle crosses through a potential barrier), and one would expect that like every observable, it should be represented in the theory by an operator whose properties are predictors of the outcome of time measurements made on physical systems. Several time operators have been proposed in different publications, but still, there is not a widely accepted consensus. That subject, among others concerned with time in quantum mechanics, is analyzed in the present chapter, where we focus on the analysis of time-reversal symmetry in non-relativistic quantum systems. The search for symmetries in Physics helps to study the structure of theories. Briefly speaking, a symmetry is a transformation that does not change the structure of the theory. We start with the analysis of Schrödinger’s Equation verifying that for obtaining a time-symmetric description of the dynamics of a particle, the operation of time-reversal must include conjugation represented by the action of an antiunitary operator acting over a wave function. In particular, we analyze quantum systems whose evolution is determined by a set of external parameters varying cyclically, discussing how even though these parameters return to their initial values, the state of the system acquires a geometric phase, which depends on the path followed by the external parameters in the parameter space and which in general can be associated with the lack of the time-reversal symmetry of the system.
The concept of simultaneity is relative in special relativity whereas, it seems to have a definite meaning in quantum mechanics. We propose to use the invariant space-time interval introduced by special relativity as a benchmark for constructing an absolute notion of space-time. We also propose to illustrate that when no measurement is conducted on a quantum system its wave function lives as a wave in the absolute space-time but, when a measurement is to be conducted, we must switch to an ordinary observable frame of reference where the quantum system lives as a particle.
The understanding of time in physics has undergone profound changes from classical mechanics to relativity and quantum mechanics. In Newtonian mechanics, time is regarded as an absolute and uniform passage, independent of external phenomena, and is a fundamental parameter of the equations of motion. Relativity emphasises the relativity of time and its close connection with the motion of matter, proposes an operational definition of the simultaneity of distant events, and develops Minkowski’s view of spacetime and Riemannian curved spacetime. In quantum mechanics, time is often regarded as a parameter external to the microscopic system rather than an observable quantity. Although some scholars have attempted to introduce time operators, they have not yet gained widespread recognition. Overall, the understanding of time in physics continues to deepen with the development of theory. Still, the unity of classical and quantum mechanics in time remains an unsolved problem.
In relativistic mechanics the time-like vector characterize the motion in spacetime with speed faster than the speed of light in vacuum c in which the line element ds2=c2dt2-dx2-dx2-dz2 is less than zero (where is infinitesimal change in time, and are infinitesimal change in space), thus the time in relativistic mechanics can instantaneously flow [1], however in quantum mechanics although the time is treated as unobservable parameter (without any Hermitian observable operator have engine-value equivalent to time) any two physical quantity described by two non-commuting observable operatorsand fulfill , the knowledge of one immediately produce the knowledge of the other [2], thus in quantum mechanics if two particles interacted in finite temporal epoch and then separated in space the gaining of knowledge by the local measurement of physical quantity runs on one them (for example the measurement of spin direction of one particle using Stern-Gerlach experiment) immediately produce the knowledge of the complementary physical quantity of the other particle (for example the opposite spin direction of the other particle), this simply called quantum entanglement the concept that so much advanced after publication of the Jon Bell’s 1964 celebrated paper [3] in which he illustrated that we can add parameters to quantum mechanics to determine the results of individual measurements, without changing the statistical predictions, and then he conclude “there must be a mechanism whereby the setting of one measuring device can influence the reading of another instrument, however remote. Moreover, the signal involved must propagate instantaneously so that such a theory could not be Lorentz invariant”. The question now what these signals that can propagate instantaneously? The answer in this paper will be the time signals field which is defined for each constituent matter particle M and at each space point P as the measure of the total length of all occupation and leaving epochs of P by M which is representing a sequence function compactly supported only at the space point occupied by it and indexed by the number of occupation epochs of P by M, thus the flow of this time signal field from the far future to near future through the present to the near past to the far past inferable by the flow of matter particles constituting the system(such as sun, moon earth and clocks hands). Thus the present will represent in this paper a local absolute feature of time signals field defined at each space point as the set of all occupation epochs of it by matter particle, however the past and future will represent relativistic non-local features of the time signal field defined at each space point as a set of all leaving epochs between each two sequential occupation epochs, so the future after one occupation epoch is representing a past of the next one. Thus according to current representation of time, the two Mc-Taggard’s A and B series of time [4] will exist together as temporal set and then the time is real, the A-series in current theory is a set of all occupation and leaving epochs of space point by the matter particle that is consisting of the present, past and future epochs, and the B-series is the set of all leaving epochs of space points between each two sequential occupation epochs which are taking position before or after the discrete occupation epochs between them and then before or after each other.
All the arguments of a wavefunction are defined at the same instant, implying the notion of simultaneity. In a somewhat related matter, certain phenomena in quantum mechanics seem to have non-local causal relations. Both concepts contradict the special relativity. We propose defining the wavefunction with respect to the invariant proper time of special relativity instead of the standard time. Moreover, we shall adopt the original idea of Schrodinger, suggesting that the wavefunction represents an ontological cloud-like object that we shall call “individual fabric” that has a finite density amplitude vanishing at infinity. Consequently, the action of measurement can be assimilated to the introduction of a confining potential that triggers an inherent nonlocal mechanism within the individual fabric. This mechanism is formalised by multiplying the wavefunction with a localising Gaussian, as in the GRW theory, but in a deterministic manner.
This work discloses some inconsistencies of quantum mechanics (QM) in two different contexts. On the one hand the equivalence principle in his two formulations is the starting point of all gravitational theories; yet there is no way to make it consistent with the non-relativistic formulation of QM. Moreover, the evaluation of the Schrödinger equation for a particle in an accelerated reference frame sheds light on a trajectory-dependent phase term subject to proper time. On the other hand, the Bargmann theorem unmistakably proves that the Schrödinger equation does not admit any superposition of different masses if the symmetry chosen for the system is the Galilean one. However, this is incompatible with relativity, since mass and energy are equivalent and one can certainly superimpose different energies. Both inconsistencies support the hypothesis that mass and proper time could be treated as variables. In the third chapter we will describe a theory in which the Galilean symmetry is extended by assuming particle mass and proper time as canonically conjugated classical variables, or conjugated observables in the quantum theory. The first three chapters discuss subjects illustrated in several articles of the professor Daniel M. Greenberger, which are listed in the bibliography. Whereas in the last chapter the results of a recent theory on QW, say a discrete model for quantum particle evolution, will be examined. In particular, the striking result is that, in the most natural physical interpretation of QW dynamics, it is not possible to have a constant and invariant mass in any manner. The long term aim of this work is indeed to study the reasons and consequences of a theory of particles with variable mass in the context of wider studies still in progress on QW.