[Paper Review] Time and Reality of Worldtubes

Vesselin Petkov|arXiv (Cornell University)|Dec 1, 2008

Relativity and Gravitational Theory16 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper argues that worldtubes—four-dimensional spacetime histories of physical objects—are physically real, not just mathematical abstractions. By analyzing kinematical relativistic effects, the author shows that such effects are impossible without the four-dimensional existence of worldtubes, which provides a foundation for understanding inertia, gravitational forces, and quantum objects as discontinuous in time, offering a paradox-free interpretation of quantum mechanics.

ABSTRACT

In this essay, dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of Hermann Minkowski's talk "Space and Time", I argue that physicists should face the issue of the reality of spacetime and worldtubes of physical objects for two reasons. First, this issue is not a philosophical question, as some appear to think, since the kinematical special relativistic effects would be impossible, as will be demonstrated, if the physical objects involved in these effects did not exist as four-dimensional worldtubes. Second, taking into account that worldtubes are real four-dimensional objects provides an unexpected insight into the origin of inertia, the nature of the force acting on a body supported in a gravitational field, and possibly even the nature of quantum objects.

Motivation & Objective

• To establish the physical reality of spacetime and worldtubes as necessary for kinematical relativistic effects to occur.
• To challenge the presentist view of time by demonstrating its conceptual inconsistencies through historical and logical analysis.
• To explore how the reality of worldtubes can resolve deep puzzles in physics, including the origin of inertia and the nature of gravitational forces.
• To propose a spacetime model of quantum objects as discontinuous in time, avoiding the measurement paradoxes of standard interpretations.
• To reassert the importance of conceptual analysis in advancing fundamental physics, countering the view that such work is philosophical rather than physical.

Proposed method

• Analyzing the kinematical consequences of special relativity to show that effects like time dilation and length contraction require the four-dimensional existence of worldtubes.
• Using historical analysis of Aristotle and Augustine to expose contradictions in the presentist view of time, particularly the paradox of the 'now' being both divisible and indivisible.
• Applying the Eleatic argument that being cannot come into or go out of existence, implying a four-dimensional, unchanging reality.
• Modeling quantum objects not as continuous worldlines but as scattered four-dimensional points in spacetime, with their Compton frequency determining the density of these points.
• Proposing that electron detection occurs when a four-dimensional point of the electron is trapped by a measurement, causing subsequent points to appear in the same location.
• Using the spacetime model to reconcile probabilistic quantum behavior with the deterministic, eternal structure of spacetime, avoiding contradictions between relativity and quantum mechanics.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Why are kinematical relativistic effects like time dilation and length contraction impossible if physical objects do not exist as four-dimensional worldtubes?
• RQ2 How does the presentist view of time lead to logical contradictions, particularly regarding the nature of the 'now'?
• RQ3 Can the reality of worldtubes explain the origin of inertia and the nature of the force on a body supported in a gravitational field?
• RQ4 What is the nature of quantum objects if they are not continuous worldlines in spacetime?
• RQ5 How can a spacetime model of quantum objects that exist discontinuously in time resolve the measurement paradoxes in quantum mechanics?

Key findings

• Kinematical relativistic effects such as time dilation and length contraction are impossible unless physical objects exist as four-dimensional worldtubes in spacetime.
• The presentist view of time leads to a logical contradiction: the 'now' must be both divisible (to allow for temporal succession) and indivisible (to preserve its status as the present), which undermines its coherence.
• The reality of worldtubes provides a natural explanation for the origin of inertia, as it arises from the geometric structure of spacetime in which objects are embedded.
• The force acting on a body supported in a gravitational field can be understood as a consequence of the four-dimensional geometry of spacetime, consistent with the worldtube model.
• Quantum objects such as electrons are not continuous worldlines but exist as a discrete set of four-dimensional points in spacetime, with their Compton frequency determining the number of such points per second.
• The probabilistic behavior of quantum objects arises from the spacetime distribution of these four-dimensional points, which are spread across the region where the wavefunction is non-zero, allowing interference patterns even for single electrons.