Space-time is a consequence of the Quantum realm : A new theory unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics
A team of physicists have come up with a revolutionary new explanation for why the universe is the way it is and how it came into being out of nothingness.
The research was published recently in a paper in the Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics. The study suggests that the fabric of Space-time that makes up the entire cosmos is nothing more than a resulting product of Quantum mechanics. And the distortions in the realm of Quantum 'weirdness' may explain some strange phenomena such as entanglement and quantum tunnelling.
The idea is actually based on several previous hypotheses and it could actually link two biggest theories in physics - the general relativity and quantum mechanics. This means we may finally have arrived at the biggest solution that scientists have been searching for several decades - the theory of everything - a single theory that unifies all the fundamental laws of nature.
"If one accepts that gravity is quantum and gravitational phenomena like formation of planetary systems, formation of galaxies or even black holes have the very same origin as that of entanglement and tunnelling, then a unification between quantum physics and gravity can be established", according to Paulo Castro from the University of Lisbon in Portugal, who is one of the researchers behind the study.
As Einstein suggested, Space-time is a strange fabric of three dimensions of space and a fourth dimension of time, that we perceive as reality. Gravity is actually a feature of this fabric of space-time that emerges when the fabric is curved by massive objects like earth or sun. The gravitational waves that we detect from merging of black holes actually ripple through this fabric of space-time.
Although, the general theory of relativity explains the gravity very well in this manner, but the problem is that it is unable to explain the weird nature of the quantum realm, such as quantum entanglement or quantum tunnelling, where the information appears to travel faster than the speed of light and particles pop in and pop out of existence in a random fashion.
The recently published paper explains these phenomena very well in the context of general relativity. According to the general relativity, the space-time pre-exists like a tri-dimensional foldable matter, and gravity emerges due to the fold of huge masses like planets or stars.
But, this new study suggests that space-time is not a pre-existing entity, rather a consequence of physical process by which the 'subquantum medium' goes from a chaotic state to a more organised one. This sub-quantum medium is a kind of primordial foam out of which the space-time emerges itself.
To get a better idea of this, one can think it as a quantum miso soup: initially it's all stirred up and nothing can be distinguished out of chaos. But, as the soup settles and becomes more 'organised', structures begin to emerge.
"Infact in our theory, these organised states correspond to subquantum waves, imposing how space and time behaves, giving rise to extreme cases like the ones in the entanglement and tunnelling effect. As different behaviours of space-time are signatures of gravity, one could easily recognize now that gravity is actually quantum", says Castro.
Although, this study is purely theoretical, but scientists are working on ways to verify this experimentally.
They already have come up with one idea that involves strange 'quantified' pattern that is seen in the placement of planets in our solar system. Researchers had previously hinted at the existence of subquantum waves around our sun. If this could be confirmed experimentally, it would help give more weight to this latest theory.
However, it is too early to jump at any conclusion and there is still quite a long way to go, but this is an exciting start for further calculations and thought experiments.
After all, our cosmos is filled with countless mysteries and more are hidden within it, waiting to be uncovered. Many researchers often suggest that a 'new physics' with a completely new set of laws may be required to explain everything, but it is possible to understand the reality by just rethinking and re-evaluating our existing models.
To get a better idea of this, one can think it as a quantum miso soup: initially it's all stirred up and nothing can be distinguished out of chaos. But, as the soup settles and becomes more 'organised', structures begin to emerge.
"Infact in our theory, these organised states correspond to subquantum waves, imposing how space and time behaves, giving rise to extreme cases like the ones in the entanglement and tunnelling effect. As different behaviours of space-time are signatures of gravity, one could easily recognize now that gravity is actually quantum", says Castro.
Although, this study is purely theoretical, but scientists are working on ways to verify this experimentally.
They already have come up with one idea that involves strange 'quantified' pattern that is seen in the placement of planets in our solar system. Researchers had previously hinted at the existence of subquantum waves around our sun. If this could be confirmed experimentally, it would help give more weight to this latest theory.
However, it is too early to jump at any conclusion and there is still quite a long way to go, but this is an exciting start for further calculations and thought experiments.
After all, our cosmos is filled with countless mysteries and more are hidden within it, waiting to be uncovered. Many researchers often suggest that a 'new physics' with a completely new set of laws may be required to explain everything, but it is possible to understand the reality by just rethinking and re-evaluating our existing models.
No comments: