The quantum physics of time travel

[monicasharma]

anyone read or have opinions on The Quantum Physics of Time Travel by David Deutsch and Michael Lockwood?

He talks about closed time like curves and if we followed them it would end up taking us to the past to participate in events, shake hands with former selves etc

I was a little confused on the concept of closed time like curves. He related the topic to Godel's solutions to Einsteins equations. He then also talked about possible finding the CTC's in black holes or moving two ends of wormholes to create a CTC.

I got lost around there. I was trying to see the connection between that and the grandfather paradox

anyone know a thing or two? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

http://philosci40.unibe.ch/lehre/wi...teien/11 Deutsch Lockwood Scientific American

 

[Com3t]

Of course, the equations are more easily shown to work with something simpler than a human, more like an electron.

A closed timelike curve is not a paradox. It is more like traveling into the past to save a grandfather's life! This is because of the fact that the curve is closed; you wind up where you started.

 

[Entropia]

.pdf

I am familiar with the concept of time travel in the realm of quantum physics. The idea of closed time like curves, or CTCs, is a theoretical concept that suggests the possibility of traveling through time by following a specific path in space-time. This concept is based on the theory of general relativity, which explains how gravity affects the curvature of space-time.

In the context of time travel, CTCs would allow us to travel back in time and potentially interact with our past selves or even change past events. However, this raises the issue of the grandfather paradox, which questions the possibility of changing the past and creating a paradox. This paradox is often used as an example to illustrate the complexities and limitations of time travel.

The connection between CTCs and the grandfather paradox lies in the fact that if we were able to travel back in time and change a past event, it could potentially create a paradox where the event never actually occurred. This raises many questions about the nature of time and the consequences of altering the past.

In their article, Deutsch and Lockwood discuss the possibility of finding CTCs in black holes or creating them by manipulating the structure of wormholes. While these are still theoretical concepts, they provide potential avenues for exploring the possibility of time travel in the future.

Overall, the concept of time travel in the context of quantum physics is a fascinating and complex topic. While there are many theories and ideas surrounding it, the actual feasibility and consequences of time travel remain uncertain. It is an area of ongoing research and debate in the scientific community. I would recommend further reading and research to gain a deeper understanding of this intriguing concept.