Reversal Of The Arrow Of Time Discovered?

Posted: 1/5/2019 Amended: 1/12/2019  Updated: 3/16/2019

Update Of 3/16/2019

Just came across these new articles:

1. Arrow of time and its reversal on the IBM quantum computer (published 3/13/2019; appears to be the full article)
2. Physicists reverse time using quantum computer (published 3/13/2019; refers to above reference)

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to read both of these articles. However, I have the impression that this experiment is perhaps a bit too clever to prove the point.

“"However, Schrödinger's equation is reversible," adds Valerii Vinokur, a co-author of the paper, from the Argonne National Laboratory, U.S. "Mathematically, it means that under a certain transformation called complex conjugation, the equation will describe a 'smeared' electron localizing back into a small region of space over the same time period." Although this phenomenon is not observed in nature, it could theoretically happen due to a random fluctuation in the cosmic microwave background permeating the universe.” (New article 2; emphasis added)

“According to the authors, these errors are due to imperfections in the actual quantum computer.” (New article 2; emphasis added) Begs the question what else is due to these “imperfections”?

Original Post

If this is confirmed that would be huge! Apparently, more evidence for reversibility of time in the microscosmos has been discovered over the recent past (Source 1 lists such research).

How important are initial conditions [at the beginning of the universe?]? From chaos theory, we have already learnt that the initial conditions are critical for the path or trajectory of chaotic complex systems.

“... Here we report the experimental demonstration of the reversal of the arrow of time for two initially quantum correlated qubits (two spin-1/2 systems) prepared in local thermal states at different temperatures employing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques … For initially correlated systems, we observe a spontaneous heat current from the cold to the hot spin and show that this process is made possible by a decrease of the mutual information between the spins … It additionally establishes that the arrow of time is not an absolute but a relative concept that depends on the choice of initial conditions. ... Thus, an anomalous heat current does not seem to be restricted to extremely microscopic systems. The precise scaling of this effect with the system size is an interesting subject for future experimental and theoretical investigations.“

(Source 1; emphasis added)

One may freely speculate if the reversal of time is confirmed then e.g. the speed of light constraint is in question too and vice versa.

Sources:

1. Physicists Demonstrate How to Reverse of the Arrow of Time The extraordinary experiment opens the door to a new generation of devices and reveals a deeper relationship between time, entropy, and entanglement. (12/22/2017)
2. Reversing the thermodynamic arrow of time using quantum correlations (11/9/2017)

The Subatomic Particle Zoo Is More Like A Microcosmos

Posted: 6/22/2013 Updated: 2/20/2017, 2/26/2016, 11/27/2015, 9/9/2015, 7/14/2015, 9/28/2014

Update Of 2/20/2017

Just read Group introduces six new particles to standard model to solve five enduring problems. Four scientists propose a new model called SMASH for "Standard Model Axion See-saw Higgs portal inflation." The proposed particles are rho (to help explain inflation), the axion (to help explain dark matter) a color triplet fermion and three heavy right-handed neutrinos.

The zoo keeps expanding …

Update Of 2/26/2016

Just read Scientists discover new subatomic particle. “DZero is one of two experiments at Fermilab's Tevatron collider. Although the Tevatron was retired in 2011, the experiments continue to analyse billions of previously recorded events from its collisions. ... DZero scientists first saw hints in July 2015 of the new particle, called X(5568), named for its mass—5568 megaelectronvolts.

While all other observed tetraquarks contain at least two of the same flavor, X(5568) has four different flavors -  up, down, strange and bottom.”

Update Of 11/27/2015

Just read http://phys.org/news/2015-11-material-universe-yields-particle.html where “the the existence of a new type of particle called the type-II Weyl fermion” is predicted.

Update Of 9/9/2015

Just read 2 Accelerators Find Particles That May Break Known Laws of Physics The LHC and the Belle experiment have found particle decay patterns that violate the Standard Model of particle physics

“Now two experiments have observed particles misbehaving in ways not predicted by any known laws of physics, potentially suggesting the existence of some new type of particle beyond the standard zoo. ”

Preface

This is a speculative blog post about physics.

The Ever Bigger Zoo

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-particles-found-at-large-hadron-collider/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/forsaken-pentaquark-particle-spotted-at-cern

This week (6/17/2013 – 6/23/2013), a new particle, i.e. Zc(3900) was confirmed possibly consisting of four quarks instead of three. See e.g. here. What is particularly noteworthy about this latest announcement is that also a Chinese particle accelerator participated in this finding.

Quanta Magazine just published this long, recommendable article “Quark Quartet Fuels Quantum Feud Newly discovered particles have incited a fierce debate among experts about the correct picture of matter at the quantum scale.” about the quandaries in the subatomic particle zoo.

A String Of Theories

You may sense that a field of science is confused or clueless when the number of theories increases or theories become more convoluted and drift further away from simple principles.

In my estimation, this is the current status of subatomic particle physics.

We had Quarks, String Theory, Superstring Theories, quantum chromodynamics, The Standard Model etc... Charming as these theories may be, they do not inspire confidence.

Then there is Dark Matter and Dark Energy …

Macrocosmos Mirrored In A Microcosmos Or Vice Versa

The Universe (macrocosmos) contains zillions of galaxies and stars etc. Is it possible that the subatomic particles are part of a microcosmos? If so, perhaps subatomic particles themselves do not really matter. Maybe it is just abstract principles to explain both cosmos. Energy is perhaps the clue or glue.

God must be smiling perhaps more enigmatic than Mona Lisa (ouch, this is anthropomorphism)!

Waiting For Einstein

I am afraid we have to wait for the next Einstein (perhaps a woman, perhaps an Indian or Chinese or Israeli) to come up with a convincing theory to explain the subatomic particle zoo.