According to research published in the journal Scientific Reports, at the quantum level, time can move not only forward but also backward. This contradicts traditional mathematical assumptions that have been misapplied by many scientists. Some quantum systems may have two different time axes: one moving in the usual direction and the other moving in the opposite direction. This discovery suggests that time asymmetry may exist on a very small scale.
Time symmetry in quantum mechanics
The equations describing the motion of individual particles in quantum physics impose no restrictions on the direction of time. This means that the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics preserve time symmetry, allowing time to move in both directions. However, when it comes to large systems composed of many particles, the equations physicists use distinguish between the past and the future.
According to Thomas Guff, a researcher in quantum thermodynamics and a professor at the University of Surrey in Britain, this discovery raises a very interesting question:
“At what stage of calculations does time symmetry disappear? When does the irreversibility of time emerge?”
Guff and his colleagues have shown that time symmetry can be preserved. They studied quantum systems interacting with the environment and found that these systems can maintain two opposing time axes.
Is it possible to reverse time?
Previously, many theorists believed that any system loses a certain amount of heat when interacting with the environment, and this phenomenon dictates the movement of time from the past to the future. However, Andrea Rocco, a biologist and physicist from the University of Surrey, challenged this idea by posing the question:
“What if it is possible to reverse time?”
He noted that in such a case, the equations describing the motion of the system would be somewhat altered.
Scientists have shown that these equations can be adapted for situations where two opposing time axes exist. These equations are relevant to various systems, such as those experiencing random fluctuations or continuously changing their state, including processes like Brownian motion.
Although there is currently no definitive mathematical proof of this, scientists speculate that the emergence of two time axes may be a common occurrence in nature.
Implications for cosmology
According to Gonzalo Ordonez, a professor at Butler University in Indiana, time symmetry is one of the most important problems in physics. He pointed out that until now, physicists may have overlooked a crucial factor in equations describing irreversible processes. If this factor is taken into account, these equations do not distinguish between the past and the future.
This discovery could have significant implications for cosmology. If the entire universe is considered as an open system, then there may be a possibility of time developing in two opposing directions after the Big Bang.
However, Rocco urges caution:
“We may have found something so fundamental that it manifests in many areas of nature. But we need to understand it more deeply,” he says.
