Jun 2–6, 2025
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
America/Toronto timezone

Causality and flow of time in realist quantum models

Jun 3, 2025, 1:45 p.m.
15m
PI/3-394 - Skyroom (Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics)

PI/3-394 - Skyroom

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

60
Conference Talk

Speaker

Prof. Eliahu Cohen (Bar-Ilan University)

Description

In a series of papers [Phys. Rev. D 102, 124027 (2020)], [Phys. Rev. D 102, 124028 (2020)] I had the pleasure to explore with Cortês, Elitzur and Smolin realist formulations of quantum theory which obey either retrocausality or disordered causality. After briefly presenting these works, I will attempt to extend them by addressing time as a quantum observable using the Page-Wootters formalism. Within this framework, the clock is treated as a quantum subsystem, endowing the remainder of the system with a notion of time through entanglement. I will show the fruitfulness of this approach by deriving new time-energy uncertainty relations [Quantum 6, 683 (2022)] and by elucidating aspects of dynamical nonlocality [Phys. Rev. A 105, 042207 (2022)]. Furthermore, I will demonstrate that in the post-Newtonian regime, perspective-dependent non-unitarity and a distinct form of time–asymmetry naturally emerge when the clocks experience acceleration or gravitational effects [Commun. Phys. 5, 298 (2022)]. Finally, I will discuss the more recent works viewing all the above as spatiotemporal quantum reference frames [Phys. Rev. A 109, 032205 (2024)], [arXiv:2503.20090].

Presenter's Name Eliahu Cohen
Presenter's Email Address [email protected]
Keywords Quantum time, quantum clocks, Page-Wootters formalism, causality, energetic causal sets,
Recording Permission YES
Virtual Audience Permission YES
Event Photography I understand

Author

Prof. Eliahu Cohen (Bar-Ilan University)

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