Tag Archives: time dilation

A cosmic spiral clock with a bright center, blending space and time elements with a rainbow arc.

Is Time Travel to the Future Possible?

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Since the future doesn’t exist, how would it be possible to travel into the future? This question has been debated by both philosophers and scientists. However, time travel to the future is the only experimental evidence we have of time travel. To understand this, we will need to understand Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity.

The science of time travel was launch in 1905,  when Einstein published his special theory of relativity in the prestigious Annalen der Physik (i.e., Annals of Physics), one of the oldest scientific journals (established in 1790). The paper that Einstein submitted regarding his special theory of relativity was titled “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies.” By scientific standards, it was unconventional. It contained little in the way of mathematical formulations or scientific references. Instead, it was written in a conversational style using thought experiments. If you examine the historical context, Einstein had few colleagues in the scientific establishment to bounce ideas off. In fact, Einstein essentially cofounded, along with mathematician Conrad Habicht and close friend Maurice Solovine, a small discussion group, the Olympia Academy, which met on a routine basis at Solovine’s flat to discuss science and philosophy. It is also interesting to note that Einstein’s position as a patent examiner related to questions about transmission of electric signals and electrical-mechanical synchronization of time. Most historians credit Einstein’s early work as a patent examiner with laying the foundation for his thought experiments on the nature of light and the integration of space and time (i.e., spacetime).

Einstein’s special theory of relativity gave us numerous new important insights into reality, among them the famous mass equivalence formula (E = mc2) and the concept and formula for time dilation. Time dilation lays the foundation for forward time travel, so let’s understand it in more depth.

According to special relativity’s time dilation, as a clock moves close to the speed of light, time slows down relative to a clock at rest. The implication is that if you were able to travel in a spaceship that was capable of approaching the speed of light, a one-year round trip journey as measured by you on a clock within the spaceship would be equivalent to approximately ten or more years of Earth time, depending on your exact velocity. In effect, when you return to Earth, you will have traveled to Earth’s future. This is not science fiction. As I mentioned above, time dilation has been experimentally verified using particle accelerators. It is widely considered a science fact.

What scientific experimental evidence do we have that time dilation is real. Here are several experiments that validate time dilation caused when particles move close to the speed of light.

Velocity time dilation experimental evidence:

Rossi and Hall (1941) compared the population of cosmic-ray-produced muons at the top of a six-thousand-foot-high mountain to muons observed at sea level. A muon is a subatomic particle with a negative charge and about two hundred times more massive than an electron. Muons occur naturally when cosmic rays (energetic-charged subatomic particles, like protons, originating in outer space) interact with the atmosphere. Muons, at rest, disintegrate in about 2 x 10-6 seconds. The mountain chosen by Rossi and Hall was high. The muons should have mostly disintegrated before they reached the ground. Therefore, extremely few muons should have been detected at ground level, versus the top of the mountain. However, their experimental results indicated the muon sample at the base experienced only a moderate reduction. The muons were decaying approximately ten times slower than if they were at rest. They made use of Einstein’s time dilation effect to explain this discrepancy. They attributed the muon’s high speed, with its associated high kinetic energy, to be dilating time.

In 1963, Frisch and Smith once again confirmed the Rossi and Hall experiment, proving beyond doubt that extremely high kinetic energy prolongs a particle’s life.

With the advent of particle accelerators that are capable of moving particles at near light speed, the confirmation of time dilation has become routine. A particle accelerator is a scientific apparatus for accelerating subatomic particles to high velocities by using electric or electromagnetic fields. In 1977, J. Bailey and CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) colleagues accelerated muons to within 0.9994% of the speed of light and found their lifetime had been extended by 29.3 times their corresponding rest mass lifetime. (Reference: Bailey, J., et al., Nature 268, 301 [1977] on muon lifetimes and time dilation.) This experiment confirmed the “twin paradox,” whereby a twin makes a journey into space in a near-speed-of-light spaceship and returns home to find he has aged less than his identical twin who stayed on Earth. This means that clocks sent away at near the speed of light and returned near the speed of light to their initial position demonstrate retardation (record less time) with respect to a resting clock.

Time dilation can also occur as a result of gravity. Our understanding of this comes from Einstein’s theory of general relativity. What is the difference between the special and general theory of relativity? Einstein used the term “special” when describing his special theory of relativity because it only applied to inertial frames of reference, which are frames of reference moving at a constant velocity or at rest. It also did not incorporate the effects of gravity. Shortly after the publication of special relativity, Einstein began work to consider how he could integrate gravity and noninertial frames into the theory of relativity. The problem turned out to be monumental, even for Einstein. Starting in 1907, his initial thought experiment considered an observer in free fall. On the surface, this does not sound like it would be a difficult problem for Einstein, given his previous accomplishments. However, it required eight years of work, incorporating numerous false starts, before Einstein was ready to reveal his general theory of relativity.

In November 1915, Einstein presented his general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy of Science in Berlin. The equations Einstein presented, now known as Einstein’s field equations, describe how matter influences the geometry of space and time. In effect, Einstein’s field equations predicted that matter or energy would cause spacetime to curve. This means that matter or energy has the ability to affect, even distort, space and time. One important aspect prediction of general relativity was that gravitational fields could cause time dilation. Here are some important experiments that prove this aspect of general relativity is correct.

Gravitational time dilation experimental evidence:

In 1959, Pound and Rebka measured a slight redshift in the frequency of light emitted close to the Earth’s surface (where Earth’s gravitational field is higher), versus the frequency of light emitted at a distance farther from the Earth’s surface. The results they measured were within 10% of those predicted by the gravitational time dilation of general relativity.

In 1964, Pound and Snider performed a similar experiment, and their measurements were within 1% predicted by general relativity.

In 1980, the team of Vessot, Levine, Mattison, Blomberg, Hoffman, Nystrom, Farrel, Decher, Eby, Baugher, Watts, Teuber, and Wills published “Test of Relativistic Gravitation with a Space-Borne Hydrogen Maser,” and increased the accuracy of measurement to about 0.01%. In 2010, Chou, Hume, Rosenband, and Wineland published “Optical Clocks and Relativity.” This experiment confirmed gravitational time dilation at a height difference of one meter using optical atomic clocks, which are considered the most accurate types of clocks.

The above discussion provides some insight into time dilation, or what some term time travel to the future. However, is it conclusive? Not to my mind! Although we have numerous experiments that demonstrate time dilation (i.e., forward time travel) involving subatomic particles is real, we have been unable to demonstrate significant human time dilation. By the word “significant,” I mean that it would be noticeable to the humans and other observers involved. To date, some humans, such as astronauts and cosmonauts, have experienced forward time travel (i.e., time dilation) in the order of approximately 1/50th of a second, which is not noticeable to our human senses. If it were in the order of seconds or minutes, then it would be noticeable. Scientifically speaking, there is no documented significant evidence of human time travel to the future.

To answer the subject question of this post, time travel to the future appears to have a valid scientific and experimental foundation. However, to date the experimental evidence does not include significant (noticeable)  human time travel to the future, which leaves the question still unanswered. My own view is that when we develop space craft capable of speeds approaching the speed of light with humans on board, time dilation (time travel to the future) will be conclusively proven.

Interior view of the Fermi particle accelerator with its large orange beamline and surrounding machinery.

Evidence of time travel to the future (time dilation)

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When we talk about time travel to the future, in scientific terms we are talking about time dilation. What is time dilation? It is a scientific fact that time moves slower for any mass accelerated near the speed of light. If that mass were a clock, for example, the hands of the clock would appear to be moving slower than a clock in the hand of an observer at rest. That phenomenon is termed time dilation. Below are the classic experiments that have demonstrated time travel to the future (time dilation) is real.

Velocity time dilation experimental evidence:

Rossi and Hall (1941) compared the population of cosmic-ray-produced muons at the top of a six-thousand-foot-high mountain to muons observed at sea level. A muon is a subatomic particle with a negative charge and about two hundred times more massive than an electron. Muons occur naturally when cosmic rays (energetic-charged subatomic particles, like protons, originating in outer space) interact with the atmosphere. Muons, at rest, disintegrate in about 2 x 10-6 seconds. The mountain chosen by Rossi and Hall was high. The muons should have mostly disintegrated before they reached the ground. Therefore, extremely few muons should have been detected at ground level, versus the top of the mountain. However, their experimental results indicated the muon sample at the base experienced only a moderate reduction. The muons were decaying approximately ten times slower than if they were at rest. They made use of Einstein’s time dilation effect to explain this discrepancy. They attributed the muon’s high speed, with its associated high kinetic energy, to be dilating time.

In 1963, Frisch and Smith once again confirmed the Rossi and Hall experiment, proving beyond doubt that extremely high kinetic energy prolongs a particle’s life.

With the advent of particle accelerators that are capable of moving particles at near light speed, the confirmation of time dilation has become routine. A particle accelerator is a scientific apparatus for accelerating subatomic particles to high velocities by using electric or electromagnetic fields. The largest particle accelerator is the Large Hadron Collider, completed in 2008.

In 1977, J. Bailey and CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) colleagues accelerated muons to within 0.9994% of the speed of light and found their lifetime had been extended by 29.3 times their corresponding rest mass lifetime. (Reference: Bailey, J., et al., Nature 268, 301 [1977] on muon lifetimes and time dilation.) This experiment confirmed the “twin paradox,” whereby a twin makes a journey into space in a near-speed-of-light spaceship and returns home to find he has aged less than his identical twin who stayed on Earth. This means that clocks sent away at near the speed of light and returned near the speed of light to their initial position demonstrate retardation (record less time) with respect to a resting clock.

Gravitational time dilation experimental evidence:

In 1959, Pound and Rebka measured a slight redshift in the frequency of light emitted close to the Earth’s surface (where Earth’s gravitational field is higher), versus the frequency of light emitted at a distance farther from the Earth’s surface. The results they measured were within 10% of those predicted by the gravitational time dilation of general relativity.

In 1964, Pound and Snider performed a similar experiment, and their measurements were within 1% predicted by general relativity.

In 1980, the team of Vessot, Levine, Mattison, Blomberg, Hoffman, Nystrom, Farrel, Decher, Eby, Baugher, Watts, Teuber, and Wills published “Test of Relativistic Gravitation with a Space-Borne Hydrogen Maser,” and increased the accuracy of measurement to about 0.01%. In 2010, Chou, Hume, Rosenband, and Wineland published “Optical Clocks and Relativity.” This experiment confirmed gravitational time dilation at a height difference of one meter using optical atomic clocks, which are considered the most accurate types of clocks.

This information is from my new book, How to Time Travel, available in both a Kindle and paperback edition on Amazon. To browse the book free and read the reviews click here: How to Time Travel.

A silhouette of a person with a clock face behind them, symbolizing the concept of time and human existence.

Theoretical Foundations for Time Travel (Why time travel is possible!)

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This post is based on material from chapter 1 of my new book, How to Time Travel.

Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity underpin the science of time travel. They are briefly presented here as theoretical evidence that time travel is real. In addition, Del Monte’s existence equation conjecture is presented as theoretical evidence that time travel is real.

1. Einstein’s special theory of relativity—The scientific community considers the special theory of relativity the “gold standard” of scientific theories. It has withstood over one hundred years of experimental verification. In addition to yielding the most iconic scientific equation of all time, E = mc2, it also gave us our first insight into the scientific nature of time and predicted time dilation, both conceptually and mathematically. Time dilation is the experimentally verifiable difference of elapsed time between two events as measured by observers, when either one or both observers are moving relative to each other at a velocity near the speed of light. It is an experimental fact that the second hand on a clock moving at a velocity close to the speed of light moves slower than a clock at rest. Time dilation is real and implies forward time travel. For example, if you board a spacecraft capable of traveling at 650 million miles per hour, a one-day journey measured by a clock onboard the spacecraft would be equivalent to the passage of one year on Earth. Time dilation experiments are routinely performed using particle accelerators, which we will discuss later in this chapter.

2. Einstein’s general theory of relativity—Numerous aspects of the general theory of relativity have been verified. For our purposes regarding time travel, it is important to focus on only two:

* Gravitational time dilation—Gravitational time dilation suggests that two observers differently situated from gravitational masses will observe time differently. For example, a clock closer to the Earth will run slower than a clock farther from the Earth. The stronger the gravitational field, the greater the time dilation. This has been experimentally verified using atomic clocks, and we will discuss the results later in this chapter.

* Closed timelike curves—There are numerous solutions to Einstein’s equations of general relativity that delineate the world line of a particle is closed, returning to its starting point. In the general theory of relativity, the world line is the path the particle traverses in four-dimensional spacetime. For example, when the particle starts out, it has four coordinates, three dimensional coordinates and one temporal coordinate. Here is a simple analogy. You are in a specific place, definable by three spatial coordinates, reading this book at a specific time, a temporal coordinate. If the world line of a particle returns to its starting point, the particle is said to have returned to its past, suggesting backward time travel is theoretically possible. However, to date, we have not been able to experimentally verify that this aspect of Einstein’s general theory of relativity is true. As previously discussed, there is evidence that the “arrow of time” can be twisted, and that events in the future can influence past events. However, this is not conclusive experimental proof that backward time travel is possible.

3. Del Monte’s existence equation conjecture—In summary, the existence equation conjecture is derived from Einstein’s special theory of relativity and predicts that a mass requires energy to move in time. If additional positive energy is added to the mass, for example, by accelerating it in a particle accelerator and increasing its kinetic energy, the mass will move more slowly in time. I interpret this as the fundamental explanation of time dilation. An interesting aspect of the existence equation conjecture is that it suggests adding negative energy to a mass will cause the mass to move backward in time. Since today’s science has been unable to produce and manipulate negative energy, this last point has not been experimentally verified. (Note: An entire chapter is devoted to explaining the existence equation conjecture in the referenced source, How to Time Travel)

Source: From chapter 1 of How to Time Travel: Explore the Science, Paradoxes, and Evidence (September 2013), Louis A. Del Monte (Amazon)

Image: Book Cover How to Time Travel

A silhouette of a person with a blank face in front of a large clock, set against a swirling cosmic background.

How to Time Travel: Explore the Science, Paradoxes, and Evidence

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Here is the entire introduction from my new book, How to Time Travel. Enjoy!

Introduction

Few subjects evoke more emotion than time travel, the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Humankind’s fascination with time travel dates back thousands of years. Although there is no consensus recognizing which written work was the first to discuss time travel, many scholars argue that the Mahabharata, from Hindu mythology, is the first, dating between 700 BCE (Before the Common/Current/Christian Era) and 300 CE (Common/Current/Christian Era). The Mahabharata, which is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, relates the story of King Revaita, who travels to heaven to meet the deity Brahma. When King Revaita returns to Earth, he is shocked to learn that many ages have passed. In today’s science, we would assert King Revaita experienced time dilation.

What is time dilation? It is a scientific fact that time moves slower for any mass accelerated near the speed of light. If that mass were a clock, for example, the hands of the clock would appear to be moving slower than a clock in the hand of an observer at rest. That phenomenon is termed time dilation. If King Revaita used a spaceship capable of speeds near the speed of light to visit Brahma, a roundtrip journey that would appear to King Revaita to take one year would result in a time passage of thirty years on Earth. This may seem like science fiction, but time dilation is a well-established, experimentally verified aspect of Einstein’s special theory of relativity; more about this later.

Arguably, the greatest single written work that laid the foundation to fire the imagination of today’s generation regarding time travel is H. G. Wells’s classic novel, The Time Machine, published in 1895. It has inspired numerous popular movies, television programs, novels, and short stories. Why are we humans so obsessed with time travel? It appears to be an innate longing. How many times have you wished that you could go back to a specific point in time and select a different action? We all do it. Consider the number of times you have replayed a specific situation in your mind. Psychologists tell us we replay an event in our minds when the outcome is not finished to our satisfaction. This has accounted for numerous nights of tossing and turning. Another common need is to seek answers to important questions from a firsthand perspective. Perhaps you would like to be a witness during the resurrection of Christ, or be a witness behind the grassy knoll during the Kennedy assassination. Perhaps you miss a loved one who has passed on, and you would like to go back in time to embrace that loved one again.

Some of us also dream about time travel to the future. What outcomes will result from our decisions? Imagine the prosperity and happiness that could be ours if we were able to travel to the future. We would be able to witness the outcome of any decision, return to the present, and guide our lives accordingly. Picking the right profession or choosing the right mate would be a certainty. We could ensure there would be no missteps in our life. A life of leisure and prosperity would be ours for the taking.

It is little wonder that many people ask this deceptively simple question: Is time travel possible? The majority of the scientific community, including myself, says a resounding yes. The theoretical foundation for time travel, based on the solutions to Einstein’s equations of relativity, is widely accepted by the scientific community. The next question, which is the most popular question, is how to time travel. Of all the questions in science, the keyword phrase “how to time travel” is close to the top of Internet search engine searches. According to Google, the largest search engine in the world, there are 2,240,000 worldwide monthly searches for the keyword phrase “how to time travel,” as of this writing. Unfortunately, it is the most difficult question to answer.

Obviously, interest in time travel is high, and what people want to know most is how to time travel. This high interest, combined with the intriguing real science behind time travel, is what inspired me to write this book.

At this point, I would like to set your expectations. We are going to embark on a marvelous journey. We will examine the real science of time travel, the theoretical foundation that has most of the scientific community united that time travel is possible. We will also examine the obstacles to time travel, and there are many. However, even in the face of all the obstacles, most of the scientific community agrees it is theoretically possible to time travel. The largest issue in time travel is not the theoretical science. It is the engineering. Highly trained theoretical physicists understand the theoretical science of time travel. However, taking the theory and building a time machine capable of human time travel has proved a formidable engineering task. It has not been done, but we are amazingly close. We have already built time machines capable of sending subatomic particles into the future. If you will pardon the pun, it is just a matter of time before we engineer our way through the time travel barrier and enable human time travel.

In setting your expectations, I promise you significant insight into the real science of time travel and an equally incredible insight into the obstacles to time travel. I cannot promise that with this knowledge you will be able to overcome the obstacles and engineer how to time travel. However, you may be the one person destined to harness the science, glean the engineering simplicity, and journey in time. There is only one way to find out, namely, read on.

To browse the book free on Amazon, click this link: http://amzn.to/1dWyEkp

A detailed spiral galaxy with bright stars scattered around a glowing blue core in deep space.

What Is Time? – The Existence Equation Conjecture – Part 1/3

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This three part post is based on original theoretical research presented in my book, Unraveling the Universe’s Mysteries, 2012, Louis A. Del Monte (available at Amazon http://amzn.to/Zo1TGn)

After consideration, I suggest understanding the nature of time requires we investigate the kinetic energy associated with moving in four dimensions. The kinetic energy refers to an object’s energy due to its movement. For example, you may be able to bounce a rubber ball softly against a window without breaking it. However, if you throw the ball at the window, it may break the glass. When thrown hard at the wall, the ball has more kinetic energy due to its higher velocity. The velocity described in this example relates to the ball’s movement in three-dimensional space (X1, X2, and X3). Even when the ball is at rest in three-dimensional space, it is it still moving in the fourth dimension, X4. This leads to an interesting question. If it is moving in the fourth dimension, X4, what is the kinetic energy associated with that movement?

To calculate the kinetic energy associated with movement in the fourth dimension we will use a vector space called Minkowski space. In addition, we will also use relativistic mechanics, from Einstein’s special theory of relativity and the mathematical discipline of calculus. In Minkowski space, the X4 coordinate is equal to ict, where i = square root of minus one, t is time as measure with clocks and c is the speed of light in a vacuum.

If we use the above methodology, which is derived in Unraveling the Universe’s Mysteries, 2012, appendix 1, the resulting equation is KEX4 = -.3mc2.

Where KEX4is the energy associated with an object’s movement in time, m is rest mass of an object, and c is the speed of light in a vacuum.

For purposes of reference, I have termed this equation, KEX4 = -.3mc2, the “Existence Equation Conjecture.” Please understand I have labeled the equation a conjecture, which in scientific terms means it is an opinion, specifically my opinion. Next, we will examine the features and implications of the equation.

Although, this equation is dimensionally correct (expressible in units of energy), which is a crucial test in physics, the equation is highly unusual from two standpoints. First, the kinetic energy is negative. The kinetic energy is always a positive value for real masses moving in three-dimensional space. However, as discussed previously, it can be negative for virtual particles. Second, the amount of negative kinetic energy suggested by the equation is enormous, approximately equal to a nuclear bomb, but negative in value.

To further our understanding of the nature of time, we will need to understand time dilation. The theory of time dilation has been around for about a century. It results from Einstein’s special theory of relativity (circa 1905), and his general theory of relativity (circa 1916). What is time dilation? It is the difference of elapsed time between two events as measured by different observers, when the observers are moving relative to each other or the events. Time dilation also occurs when the observers are in stronger or weaker gravitational fields, relative to each other.

Here are two examples to illustrate time dilation.

1)   Picture yourself in a spaceship moving away from another observer who is at rest. When you look at your clock, it appears to be running normally. When the observer at rest looks at your clock, it appears to be running slower than his clock at rest. If the speed of your spaceship approaches the speed of light, the difference between the clocks is significantly exaggerated. The clock on the spaceship, from the viewpoint of the observer at rest, appears to have almost stopped.

2)   Let’s explore gravitational time dilation. When Einstein developed his general theory of relativity (circa 1916), he developed the theory of gravitational time dilation. Picture yourself in a spaceship near the sun, and another observer on a spaceship near the earth. To simplify things, assume you are both at rest relative to each other, and that each of you has a telescope capable of seeing the clock on the other’s spaceship. The clock on the spaceship nearer the sun (in a much greater gravitational field) will move slower than the clock on the spaceship near the earth (in a lesser gravitational field). The observer near the sun sees his clock moving normally, but sees the observer’s clock near the earth moving faster. The observer near the earth sees his clock moving normally, but sees the clock on the spaceship near the sun moving slowly.

Sounds like science fiction, but it is not. Time dilation is an experimentally verified fact. We are dealing with science fact, not science fiction. It is independent of the technical aspects of clocks, and not related to the speed of the signals, which is typically the speed of light. Science believes it is a fundamental of reality.

Stay tuned for part 2. 

Close-up of an ornate clock face with Roman numerals illuminated by a warm golden light.

Check Out My Huff Post Blog Article, “Time Travel to the Future Is Real”

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Click on the link below to read the Huff Post Science Article:

“Time Travel to the Future Is Real”

– Physicist Louis Del Monte discusses time travel to the future, including time dilation and time travel experimental evidence in this Huffington Post article.

science of time & time dilation

The Science of Time & Time Dilation Expalined (2 videos) – Series: Time, Existence, Energy – Parts 4 & 5

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The Science of Time & Time Dilation Explained:
Physicist Louis Del Monte explains the science of time and time dilation. In these two videos, Del Monte introduces the Existence Equation Conjecture, the mathematical equation that equates time travel to energy, and provides examples of time dilation. Watch as Del Monte explains time dilation using the Existence Equation Conjecture.

This theory is also fully explained in Louis Del Monte’s new book, Unraveling the Universe’s Mysteries (available in paper back or as an eBook on Amazon http://amzn.to/Zo1TGn and Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/RAv4FL).

You can follow Louis Del Monte on Twitter (https://twitter.com/delmontelouis), and view his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DelMonte.Louis.