Chimp

The thermodynamic arrow of time, is very interesting.

symmetric
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antisymmetric

Could it be possible to combine symmetry with antisymmetry to generate the thermodynamic arrow of time? This would also resolve the non-locality paradox since symmetric and antisymmetric waveforms intersect to generate the thermodynamic arrow?

It has to do with tensors and possible generalizations of tensors:

A symmetric tensor is of the form A_ab = A_ba

An anti symmetric tensor is of the form A_ab = -A_ba

An asymmetric tensor is where A_ab is not equal to A_ba

Any second rank tensor including asymmetric tensors, can be represented as the sum:

A_ab = [A_ab + A_ba]/2 + [A_ab - A_ba]/2

antisymmetry can be represented as a spin, or rotation, and while researching on the internet, I see that the "Dirac equation" has aspects of antisymmetry. If Fermions have anti symmetric rotational aspects then so should spacetime. This antisymmetric "rotational" aspect of spacetime explains certain laws of physics. The *mechanics* of spacetime???

Russ

nermal

there's a book by that very title. It should address those questions. It's on my reading list, but I haven't got to it yet.

Ed

Unbeliever

There is also a book by Julian Barbour called The End of Time: The Next Revolution in Physics that is very good, in which he tries to formulate a model of a timeless universe, wherein there is no 'arrow of time'.

Bob K

Chimp:

Are you interested in a definition of time and a formulation of the concepts and principles relevant to time?

Or are you primarily interested in whether or not it is "possible to combine symmetry with antisymmetry to generate the thermodynamic arrow of time" regardless of whether or not a theremodynamic arrow of time is relevant to reality?

Paul Davies, That Mysterious Flow, Scientific American, Special Edition: A Matter of Time, September, 2002, p. 41.

"To be perfectly honest, neither scientists nor philosophers really know what time is or why it exists. The best thing they can say is that time is an extra dimension akin (but not identical) to space. ..."

What is your definition of time?

Or, what definition of time do you prefer?

Chimp

Very interesting Bob K...

Time appears to be an irreversable process in that we can only remember the past and not the future. Time appears to be symmetrical with the conservation of energy, or 1st law of thermodynamics, and asymmetrical with the 2nd law of thermodynamics and the accumulation of memory. Time could possibly be antisymmetric with the spin properties of matter?

Time cannot be separated from space, so we really have space-time. This creates the strange effects of relativity, where length is contracted and time is dilated at relativistic velocities, and space and time are curved by the presence of mass-energy.

What if time is not linear? ... but is a non-linear iterative process?

Symmetry has been a very useful concept for the unification of physics. It could also be useful for a unification of general relativity and quantum mechanics.

It seems that time is a process of constant change but it is also a timeless dimension, according to Minkowski and Einstein. There could be a duality, with our local perception of time as a rate of change, and a type of "timelessness" for a global perspective?


Chimp

Chimp

An interesting quote from the Julian Barbour page:


http://www.platonia.com/ideas.html

Marduk

“They are linear, it makes them weak”
The Prophets of Bayjor-DS9

dublczek

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like bananas. - Graucho Marx -