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Practical application of Quantum Mechanics on Particles
An essay on Time Travel
By Jamie Davenport

I was once asked to discuss the theory of time travel and quantum mechanics with a science major to validate my use of a “time device” in a fictional story I was helping to write at the time. I did my best to break down what I knew and read about the field in lamen’s terms and did eventually convince her that the theories, although unproved, were worth a look and thus could use the “time device” in the fictional piece. This essay is sort of a jaunt into what we discussed.

First, lets start with the basic thruths of quantum mechanics and time travel theory. The first and basic fact on which all time travel theory revolves is that one can slow time or speed it up, thus there must be a way to reverse it. It is a proven fact, found in expiriments with manned space craft outside of the planet earth’s realm that time moves slower the less gravity there is exerted on an object. Astronauts in space with clocks in a space station are able to see a difference in the movement in time in comparison to that on earth due to the shift in gravity. Quantum gravity is part of a theory that there are tiny particles (often called quauntum particles) too small to be detected between the spaces in the tiniest atom, and the effect of gravity either quickens or slows those particles causing the slowing or quickening of time.

Now consider this, if one removes gravity entirely it is then possible to slow time, but not stop it. There is a theory currently which I like to call the break-point theory, that since time accelerates at a high speed as gravity increases, if you were to increase quantum gravity to the point where an object is destroyed it would first, catapult the object forward in time, and then at a certain unknown point I like to call the break-point, it would then reverse it. A good example of this would be the inside of a black hole, gravity is so strong it crushes an object but scientists still believe that if one were to send something through such a hole, it would indeed be crushed, then reconstructed as time reversed.

The problem with this is first, if we were to harness a black hole for such a purpose, if time did reverse the object sent through would still not be able to escape the pull of the black hole, and there would be no way to determine where in time one would end up, forwards or backwards since a black hole is a naturally existing finite phenomenon. There would in effect be no way to control the powerful amount of gravity the worm hole used and thus, no control over the movement through time. An added factor is that since a worm hole is finite one of two things could occur, first, you could not move forward or backward past the time when the hole was created or collapses, you are within the bounds of it’s existence. Or, if the quantum gravity did manage to catapult you past the creation/destruction points of the black hole you could in effect cease to exist or be stranded in the time in which you land.

There are a few other conundrums to actually getting to time travel (I won’t even delve into the theories on butterfly effect etc) First, how to inflict that much gravity on an object and only that object and control it so that a specific time could be reached. (we’ll ignore the being crushed to death bit for now since in theory it would reverse itself after the breaking point)Second problem, if one went back in time by the break-point manner thereby creating a CTC (closed time circuit, basically a loop in time from where ever you land up to your death and back again) could one then be able to go forward in time past the original break point or would you in fact be closing yourself off in that CTC and never be able to move forward past the time of your original break-point?

Additionally, if the break-point ends up not reversing time at all but only catapulting you forward until the break, then is time travel only possible by jumping forward and never backward? If that’s the case, what’s the practical use of it? I should remind myself also to look into mercury in practical application for such a “time device” (if one is needed at all, I won’t even go into that) Mercury although deadly is an electrical conductor that expands at a steady rate in heat and is liquid and thus cannot be crushed and would if harnessed possibly be a good material for use in any electrical conduits inside such a device.

Disclaimer: I don’t pretend to be an expert on this stuff or have any formal training in it, I know only the rudimentary knowledge of what I’ve read in various science articles, and although my theories/knowledge may never be used in practical application it is a good basis for fictional rp in gaia where time travel is concerned.