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Mr Peanut
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Is there a smallest time interval?
There is something called Planck time, which in some theories could be the smallest unit of time.Mr Peanut said:Is there a smallest time interval?
If there was, it wouldn't be Lorentz-invariant. There would be some privileged frame with minimal time quant and we could check whether we move relative to it.Is there a smallest time interval?
Mr Peanut said:Is there a smallest time interval?
JDługosz said:It's not a smallest interval in the sense of a pixel grid for pictures, where you snap from one to the other. As another reply explains, that would not be Lorentz-invariant.
However, the Planck time (about 5.4e-44 s) is a "smallest interval" in the sense that if two events occur that close together you can't meaningfully say that one came first. In quantum physics, you only ask about ranges: does some event occur in this box, with what probability? Will my particle act between t1 and t2? The theory of QM doesn't work smaller than that. Maybe something else does; we don't know yet.
It's not a tick, tick, tick snap of discrete clock points. But it's a resolving power, where you can't tell apart anything that close together.
If you're talking about box, you must have some other dimensions involved. Then you can extend the other dimensions and get smaller time granularity - and there is no smallest quant.does some event occur in this box, with what probability?
The quantum world of time refers to the study of time at the smallest intervals, where the traditional laws of time and space break down and quantum mechanics takes over. This field explores the nature of time on a subatomic level and how it interacts with other fundamental forces.
In the quantum world, time is not a continuous flow as we experience it in our daily lives. Instead, it is thought to be made up of discrete units or intervals, similar to how matter is made up of tiny particles. This concept is known as "quantized time" and is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics.
Studying the quantum world of time can provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of time and how it relates to other fundamental forces, such as gravity and electromagnetism. This knowledge can also have practical applications in fields such as quantum computing and quantum information technology.
Scientists use a variety of tools and techniques, such as particle accelerators and quantum clocks, to study the quantum world of time. These experiments allow them to observe and measure the behavior of time at the smallest intervals, providing insights into its elusive nature.
Some current theories about the quantum world of time include the concept of "quantum foam," which suggests that time and space are made up of tiny, constantly fluctuating units. Another theory is that time is not a fundamental aspect of the universe, but rather an emergent property that arises from the interactions of quantum systems.