“Is there a copy of you reading this article? A person who is not you but who lives on a planet called Earth, with misty mountains, fertile fields and sprawling cities, in a solar system with eight other planets? The life of this person has been identical to yours in every respect. But perhaps he or she now decides to put down this article without finishing it, while you read on” (Tegmark ¶1). This idea may seem mind boggling but this idea is a basic principle that helps explain the multiverse through quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics and multiverse theory are now on the forefront of explaining how time travel could become possible in the future, but quantum mechanics is raising many questions as to is time travel really time travel when applied to quantum mechanics, what exactly is a multiverse, and how are these multiverses formed and physically constructed.
With new advancements in quantum mechanics, there have been new theoretical innovations as to how we can apply quantum mechanics to time travel. Quantum mechanics shows us that microscopic particles have a duality that can be observed throughout different experimentation. This duality has all the same characteristics of the Alpha particle but subtle changes in the behavior of the particle are visible (Crichton 108-115). Scientists have not yet discovered why quantum mechanics only applies to the microscopic world (Svoboda ¶3). This duality, if theoretically applied to life, as we know it could, in fact, show us that life is not about a single choice. In, what scientists call the multiverse, there are beings that carry out all the possible outcomes of the decisions every person and living organism in the world makes (Tegmark ¶2). Now we can apply the multiverse and quantum mechanics to the idea of time travel. If applying the theory of the multiverse, it would seem that the many paradoxes of classical straight-line time travel could easily be avoided and alleviated from our worries (Abbruzzese ¶1). But then again the question arises if time travel is really time travel when applied to the multiverse theory. Instead of traveling to our real past or future, we would travel to a universe where our actual being does not exist and changes have occurred (Abbruzzese ¶4).
After quantum mechanics establishes the idea of the multiverse, we must theoretically understand exactly what the multiverse is. “The trouble is that in an infinite multiverse, everything that can happen will happen – an infinite number of times” (Gefter ¶8). Each decision or change to an Alpha universe in the multiverse has its own section of the multiverse in which life carries on. “Two events that are simultaneous for me are not simultaneous for you, so there are an infinite number of ways you can slice up the multiverse. None is more ‘true’ than any other, so there’s no reason to chose one time slicing over another – and different slices can yield dramatically different results” (Gefter ¶10). Black holes give us evidence that the multiverse exists. When objects disappear into a black hole, the physical object ceases to exist, but the energy and encoded information stays in our universe while the object goes to another multiverse (Gefter ¶30). As more evidence, we may consider our very existence here on earth. For example, “life as we know it on Earth is possible only if the sun’s mass falls into the narrow range between 1.6 * 10^30 and 2.4 * 10^30 kilograms. … this apparent coincidence of the habitable and observed mass values appears to be a wild stroke of luck. … One can explain this apparent coincidence by postulating an ensemble … and a selection effect (the fact that we must find ourselves living on a habitable planet)” (Tegmark ¶20).
As we continue to explain the deep theoretical context of the multiverse, it has been observed that there are different theories as to the physical characteristics of the multiverse. There are four types of multiverses. Level I multiverses are billions of billions of miles away. Level I multiverses, like all multiverses, contain alter egos, which act out the possibilities in everyone’s life. Level II multiverses expand from one central universe in a fractal pattern. Level III multiverses exist in alternate dimensions, and Level IV multiverses are simply explained by mathematical statistics (Tegmark ¶1 -65). At the current time, Level III multiverses have the most substantial evidence of existence. Level I and II multiverses involve physically existing universes that are extremely far away. Level III multiverses are found existing alongside the “real” world, which we exist in. Although the observer cannot observe the multiverse, it is still there. This is because the Level III multiverse exists in the other six dimensions that were formed during the big bang (Tegmark ¶23). In a Level III multiverse, a new multiverse is formed in a certain process. “Whenever observers are asked a question, make a snap decision and give an answer, quantum effects in their brains lead to a superposition of outcomes, such as ‘Continue reading the article’ and ‘Put down the article’ … the act of making a decision causes a person to split into multiple copies: … each of these alter egos is unaware of the others” (Tegmark ¶29).
In conclusion, there are many mysteries left to solve before time travel might become possible by using quantum mechanics. If scientists find a way to tie quantum characteristics to large objects, and find a way to travel between multiverses, technically time travel is absolutely possible. But after understanding quantum mechanics, time travel seems subordinate and understanding the multiverse seems much more intriguing. But if the multiverse is a true identity, than just imagine, if someone read this paper in this universe, maybe they did not even pick it up in another (Tegmark ¶1).
Works Cited
Abbruzzese, John. “On using the multiverse to avoid the paradoxes of time travel.” Analysis 61.1 (2001): 36. Humanities International Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 May 2010.
Crichton, Michael. Timeline. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. 108-15. Print.
Gefter, Amanda. “Come on in, the multiverse is lovely.” New Scientist 205.2750 (2010): 28-31. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Merali, Zeeya. “BACK FROM THE FUTURE.” Discover 31.3 (2010): 38-44. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Svoboda, Elizabeth. “40 Quantum Freakiness Leaks Into the Big World.” Discover 31.1 (2010): 49. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Tegmark, Max. “Parallel Universes.” Scientific American 288.5 (n.d.): 41. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 18 May 2010.
With new advancements in quantum mechanics, there have been new theoretical innovations as to how we can apply quantum mechanics to time travel. Quantum mechanics shows us that microscopic particles have a duality that can be observed throughout different experimentation. This duality has all the same characteristics of the Alpha particle but subtle changes in the behavior of the particle are visible (Crichton 108-115). Scientists have not yet discovered why quantum mechanics only applies to the microscopic world (Svoboda ¶3). This duality, if theoretically applied to life, as we know it could, in fact, show us that life is not about a single choice. In, what scientists call the multiverse, there are beings that carry out all the possible outcomes of the decisions every person and living organism in the world makes (Tegmark ¶2). Now we can apply the multiverse and quantum mechanics to the idea of time travel. If applying the theory of the multiverse, it would seem that the many paradoxes of classical straight-line time travel could easily be avoided and alleviated from our worries (Abbruzzese ¶1). But then again the question arises if time travel is really time travel when applied to the multiverse theory. Instead of traveling to our real past or future, we would travel to a universe where our actual being does not exist and changes have occurred (Abbruzzese ¶4).
After quantum mechanics establishes the idea of the multiverse, we must theoretically understand exactly what the multiverse is. “The trouble is that in an infinite multiverse, everything that can happen will happen – an infinite number of times” (Gefter ¶8). Each decision or change to an Alpha universe in the multiverse has its own section of the multiverse in which life carries on. “Two events that are simultaneous for me are not simultaneous for you, so there are an infinite number of ways you can slice up the multiverse. None is more ‘true’ than any other, so there’s no reason to chose one time slicing over another – and different slices can yield dramatically different results” (Gefter ¶10). Black holes give us evidence that the multiverse exists. When objects disappear into a black hole, the physical object ceases to exist, but the energy and encoded information stays in our universe while the object goes to another multiverse (Gefter ¶30). As more evidence, we may consider our very existence here on earth. For example, “life as we know it on Earth is possible only if the sun’s mass falls into the narrow range between 1.6 * 10^30 and 2.4 * 10^30 kilograms. … this apparent coincidence of the habitable and observed mass values appears to be a wild stroke of luck. … One can explain this apparent coincidence by postulating an ensemble … and a selection effect (the fact that we must find ourselves living on a habitable planet)” (Tegmark ¶20).
As we continue to explain the deep theoretical context of the multiverse, it has been observed that there are different theories as to the physical characteristics of the multiverse. There are four types of multiverses. Level I multiverses are billions of billions of miles away. Level I multiverses, like all multiverses, contain alter egos, which act out the possibilities in everyone’s life. Level II multiverses expand from one central universe in a fractal pattern. Level III multiverses exist in alternate dimensions, and Level IV multiverses are simply explained by mathematical statistics (Tegmark ¶1 -65). At the current time, Level III multiverses have the most substantial evidence of existence. Level I and II multiverses involve physically existing universes that are extremely far away. Level III multiverses are found existing alongside the “real” world, which we exist in. Although the observer cannot observe the multiverse, it is still there. This is because the Level III multiverse exists in the other six dimensions that were formed during the big bang (Tegmark ¶23). In a Level III multiverse, a new multiverse is formed in a certain process. “Whenever observers are asked a question, make a snap decision and give an answer, quantum effects in their brains lead to a superposition of outcomes, such as ‘Continue reading the article’ and ‘Put down the article’ … the act of making a decision causes a person to split into multiple copies: … each of these alter egos is unaware of the others” (Tegmark ¶29).
In conclusion, there are many mysteries left to solve before time travel might become possible by using quantum mechanics. If scientists find a way to tie quantum characteristics to large objects, and find a way to travel between multiverses, technically time travel is absolutely possible. But after understanding quantum mechanics, time travel seems subordinate and understanding the multiverse seems much more intriguing. But if the multiverse is a true identity, than just imagine, if someone read this paper in this universe, maybe they did not even pick it up in another (Tegmark ¶1).
Works Cited
Abbruzzese, John. “On using the multiverse to avoid the paradoxes of time travel.” Analysis 61.1 (2001): 36. Humanities International Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 May 2010.
Crichton, Michael. Timeline. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. 108-15. Print.
Gefter, Amanda. “Come on in, the multiverse is lovely.” New Scientist 205.2750 (2010): 28-31. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Merali, Zeeya. “BACK FROM THE FUTURE.” Discover 31.3 (2010): 38-44. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Svoboda, Elizabeth. “40 Quantum Freakiness Leaks Into the Big World.” Discover 31.1 (2010): 49. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 May 2010.
Tegmark, Max. “Parallel Universes.” Scientific American 288.5 (n.d.): 41. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 18 May 2010.
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