Reconciling the Concept of Time Flow with the Static Block Universe

协调时间流的概念与静态块宇宙

• 批准号: 2422461
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: King's College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2422461
• 关键词: Reconciling; Concept; Time; Flow; Static

In this project I aim to investigate whether advocates of the static block universe, in which all of time exists equally with no defined present moment or moving parts, must be committed to a flowless picture or whether it is possible to reconcile the two viewpoints by reinterpreting what flow is. This research will contribute to our understanding of how physical theories relate to time and how they can encapsulate all its properties. Current literature (Arthur, 2019) (Savitt, Myrvold, & Joy, 2009) (Dieks, 2006) proposes a concept of static flow based on localised occurrences of events and an investigation into how they do this and where they fail will reveal the challenges facing such an attempt. I will consider whether what they describe is truly flow and what implications it has for our interpretations of theories in the physical world. The structure of the block universe will be affected by the picture of flow built into it and what theoretical concepts it relies on.This project would aim to look at three main areas to build a picture of flow.Part A: Concepts of FlowMy first aim will be to look at identifying the essential features of flow and show how a static version, without a moving present moment, can be formulated.1.What properties must flow possess?Dynamic flow advocates have defined essential properties such as a moving present (incoherent due to the infinite regress argument given above) and a rate of flow (Price, 2009), as well as direction and continuity. I will examine Russell's (1903) "at-at" theory of motion being simply occupying different states at different times and Maudlin's (2002) view of passage as an intrinsic asymmetry in spacetime. Having done this I can also assess which of these properties contradict a static version of flow.Part B: Flow in Modern PhysicsRichard Arthur's recent book puts forward arguments for the localized passage of time following proper time along a worldline, the path an object traces out in spacetime. A full assessment of how successful Arthur's work is can be made based on the key properties identified in the first stage of the project. Particular projects will include:1.How can Arthur's analysis be extended to non-inertial reference frames in special relativity?Arthur lays out a picture of flow in special relativity but only considers inertial frames. Extending this to accelerating frames will provide insight into how his formulation holds against modern physics and what flow is like in different situations. Specifically, I will consider constantly accelerating Rindler Coordinates which can help to model phenomena such as black holes. This can then also be extended to general relativity. 2.Does a localised, rather than universal, notion of flow still have the features we require of it?Much of our common sense understanding requires a universal moment progressing uniformly, whether Arthur's localised version can satisfy these requirements needs full consideration.Part C: Physical FlowFollowing this examination, it becomes apparent that many of our notions of time depend on the physical structures of matter in the universe. This has strong implications for how time flow can be understood.1.How do different understandings of relativity theory effect the idea of flow?Harvey Brown (2005) drew the distinction between understanding the consequences of relativity as an effect of the geometrical structure of spacetime and as an effect of dynamic laws governing forces on objects and processes. I wish to consider whether different interpretations of the postulates of relativity effect our understanding of flow.2.What features must a process have to be able to measure time and how can flow be understood in systems without these features?Certain features are necessary to define a process as timekeeping, are these features all necessary and how can we understand flow without one or more of them?

在这个项目中，我的目标是研究静态块宇宙的倡导者是否必须致力于一个没有流动的画面，或者是否有可能通过重新解释什么是流动来调和这两种观点。在静态块宇宙中，所有的时间都是平等存在的，没有定义的当下时刻或运动部分。这项研究将有助于我们理解物理理论与时间的关系，以及它们如何概括时间的所有属性。当前文献（Arthur, 2019） （Savitt, Myrvold, & Joy, 2009） （Dieks, 2006）提出了基于局部事件发生的静态流概念，并对他们如何做到这一点以及他们在哪里失败的调查将揭示这种尝试所面临的挑战。我将考虑他们所描述的是否真的是心流，以及它对我们在物理世界中对理论的解释有什么影响。积木宇宙的结构将受到内置的流动图像以及它所依赖的理论概念的影响。这个项目将着眼于三个主要领域来构建心流的图景。我的第一个目标将着眼于识别流的基本特征，并展示如何制定一个静态版本，没有移动的现在时刻。流动必须具备哪些特性？动态流的倡导者已经定义了一些基本属性，如移动的现在（由于上面给出的无限回归论点而不连贯）和流动速率（Price, 2009），以及方向和连续性。我将研究罗素（1903）的“at-at”运动理论，即在不同的时间占据不同的状态，以及莫德林（2002）将通道视为时空内在不对称的观点。这样做之后，我还可以评估哪些属性与流的静态版本相矛盾。B部分：现代物理学中的流动理查德·亚瑟的新书提出了时间沿着世界线（物体在时空中的轨迹）跟随固有时的局部流逝的论点。根据项目第一阶段确定的关键属性，可以对Arthur的工作的成功程度进行全面评估。具体项目将包括：如何将亚瑟的分析推广到狭义相对论中的非惯性参考系？亚瑟在狭义相对论中描绘了一幅流动的图画，但只考虑了惯性系。将其扩展到加速框架将使我们深入了解他的公式如何与现代物理学相抵触，以及不同情况下的流是什么样子。具体来说，我将考虑不断加速伦德勒坐标，这有助于模拟黑洞等现象。这也可以推广到广义相对论。2.一个局部而非普遍的心流概念是否仍然具有我们所需要的特征？我们的很多常识认识都需要一个普遍的时刻统一推进，亚瑟的本土化版本能否满足这些要求需要充分考虑。C部分：物理流通过这次考察，很明显，我们的许多时间概念取决于宇宙中物质的物理结构。这对如何理解时间流具有重要意义。对相对论的不同理解如何影响流的概念？哈维·布朗（2005）将相对论的结果理解为时空几何结构的影响和控制物体和过程的力的动态定律的影响之间的区别。我希望考虑对相对论假设的不同解释是否会影响我们对流动的理解。过程必须具备哪些特征才能测量时间？在没有这些特征的系统中如何理解流？某些特征对于将流程定义为计时是必要的，这些特征都是必要的吗？如果没有一个或多个特征，我们如何理解流程？