Although in theory, can be divided into infinitely small intervals, the smallest physically meaningful interval of time is Planck time, which is approximately equal to 10-43 seconds. This finite limit means that two events cannot be separated by time to be less than this interval. But now, in the new physics came to the conclusion that the shortest physically meaningful interval of time may actually be several orders of magnitude more time Strap. In addition, physicists have demonstrated that the existence of such a minimum time changes the basic equations of quantum mechanics, because quantum mechanics describes physical systems at the smallest scales, it also changes the description of all quantum-mechanical systems.
Scientists the World Faisal from the University of Waterloo and the University of Lethbridge in Canada, Mohammed Khalil from Alexandria University in Egypt and Saurya Das from the University of Lethbridge has published an article called “the Crystals of time from the minimum time of uncertainty” in the European journal Physical Journal C.
“Could it be that in the Universe the minimum time scale is actually much longer Strap, and this can be verified experimentally,” said Faisal Phys.org.
The Planck time is so short that not a single experiment has never been close enough to check it directly is the most accurate test to access the time interval of the order of 10-17 seconds.
However, there is strong theoretical support for the existence of Planck time in various approaches to quantum gravity, like string theory, loop quantum gravity and perturbative quantum gravity. Almost all of these approaches assume that it is impossible to measure the length less than the length of the Strap, and in a broad sense and a time shorter than the Planck time, too, because the Planck time is defined as the time it takes for the light to overcome one unit of Planck length in a vacuum.
Pappasallis recent theoretical studies, the scientists looked into the question of the structure of time — in particular, touched upon the old question: discretely or continuously?
“In our work we have assumed that time is discrete in nature, and also suggested ways of experimental verification of this assumption,” says Faisal.
One of the possible checks include measuring the speed of spontaneous emission of a hydrogen atom. Advanced quantum-mechanical equation predicts a slightly different rate of spontaneous emission than predicted by the conventional equation, within the uncertainty range. The proposed effects can also be observed in the decay rate of unstable particles and nuclei.
Based on his theoretical analysis of spontaneous emission of hydrogen, the scientists estimate that the minimum time interval should be several orders of magnitude larger than the Planck time, but not more than a certain value set by the previous experiments. Further experiments may reduce this limit the minimum time or to determine its exact value.
Researchers also suspect that the proposed changes in the basic equations of quantum mechanics could change the very definition of time. They explain that the time structure can be considered as crystalline, consisting of discrete, regularly repeating segments.
On a more philosophical level, the argument of discrete time means that our perception of time as something constantly flowing — just an illusion.
“The physical universe, actually, as the picture in the movie, when the series of still images creates the illusion of moving images, says Faisal. — Therefore, if seriously to take this point of view, our perception of physical reality based on a continuous movement, will be an illusion produced by discrete mathematical structure underlying the time”.
“This proposal makes the physical reality of the Platonic in nature, he says, pointing to the argument of Plato that the true reality exists independently of our senses. — However, unlike other theories of Platonic idealism, our proposal can be tested experimentally and be attributed not only to the account of philosophy”.