New research from Griffith University's Centre for Quantum Dynamics is broadening perspectives on time and space.
In a paper published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A, Associate Professor Joan Vaccaro challenges the long-held presumption that time evolution—the incessant unfolding of the universe over time—is an elemental part of Nature.
In the paper, entitled Quantum asymmetry between time and space, she suggests there may be a deeper origin due to a difference between the two directions of time: to the future and to the past.
"If you want to know where the universe came from and where it's going, you need to know about time," says Associate Professor Vaccaro.
"Experiments on subatomic particles over the past 50 years ago show that Nature doesn't treat both directions of time equally.
"In particular, subatomic particles called K and B mesons behave slightly differently depending on the direction of time.
"When this subtle behaviour is included in a model of the universe, what we see is the universe changing from being fixed at one moment in time to continuously evolving.
"In other words, the subtle behaviour appears to be responsible for making the universe move forwards in time.
"Understanding how time evolution comes about in this way opens up a whole new view on the fundamental nature of time itself.
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