There are various perspectives on the concept of time. One of these perspectives comes from Abhijit Naskar, who posits that time is essentially an illusion arising from our minds to help perceive a temporary existence within the vast ocean of space.
Time serves as an indicator of processes, actions, or states in progress. The measurement of time, which includes counting days, hours, minutes, seconds, and so on, helps determine specific periods.
Without neurons creating a virtual perception of the past and future based on our experiences, there would be no real existence of past or future. All that exists is the present.
Time is Merely an Illusion: An Explanation from Physicists
Some physicists argue that time is a complex concept due to its behavior not always aligning with the main theories about the universe. This inconsistency creates a stalemate that hinders the discovery of a unified theory.
Time functions as a framework that explains all aspects of physics in the universe. There are even theoretical studies suggesting the possibility that time is merely an illusion emerging at the quantum level.
According to a recent study published on May 10, 2024, in Physical Review A, researchers found that time might not be a fundamental element of the universe. Instead, it is considered an illusion that emerges from quantum entanglement.
The researchers also proposed that they might have found clues to address this issue. They suggest that time can be viewed as a consequence of quantum entanglement, the strange connection between two particles separated by great distances.
Alessandro Coppo, a physicist from the Italian National Research Council, told Live Science that it might be possible to introduce a consistent concept of time through classical and quantum laws. In this context, time is seen as a manifestation of entanglement, indicating a correlation between clocks and the systems generating time—a fundamental element in life.
Theories About Time
Time has a unidirectional flow, from the past to the present, and cannot be avoided. It remains beyond the peculiar and constantly changing quantum systems. Time can only be observed through changes in external entities, such as clock hands.
However, according to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, time is closely linked with space and can be bent or expanded by gravity or high speeds. This can lead to a fundamental impasse between the two main theories of reality. Without a resolution to this issue, achieving a coherent theory that unifies everything becomes extremely challenging.
To address this issue, some researchers align with the ‘Page and Wootters’ mechanism theory. Originating in 1983, this theory states that time is formed when one object interacts with another object functioning as a clock within quantum entanglement. In an unentangled system, time does not exist.
Scientists applied the Page and Wootters mechanism to two theoretically entangled but non-interacting quantum states. In this case, a vibrating harmonic oscillator and a set of small magnets function as the clock.
The results of this application showed that the system could be accurately described by the Schrödinger equation, which predicts the behavior of quantum objects.
However, to replace time in their version of the famous equation, the system must operate according to the state of the small magnets acting as the clock. This view is not entirely new but represents the next step for the team.
They plan to repeat the calculations twice, assuming that each magnet and harmonic oscillator is either a microscopic or larger object. The equation that time is merely an illusion is then simplified into a classical physics equation. It shows that the flow of time is a consequence of entanglement, even for large-scale objects.
Einstein’s Repeated Statement
Einstein has repeatedly stated that time is merely an illusion and does not truly exist. For those who feel confused by this term or reject his view, they may not fully understand the nature of time.
Often, people forget that time is essentially a unit used to measure the duration of a process, similar to how meters are used to measure the length of an object.
The view that time is merely an illusion has received various responses from physicists. Recently, some physicists have put forth new perspectives on time. For those who have not yet grasped this concept, reading articles about time can provide a deeper explanation.
