From time-irreversibility in gravity to measurement in quantum mechanics
Abstract
Abstract — 1. We prove a theorem that says, essentially, that it is impossible for an infinite slab to exist which absorbs, reflects, or transforms a fraction> 0 of the energy in weak gravitational waves. But it is (essentially) possible to make a 100 % efficient emitter of such waves. 2. We prove a theorem that says, essentially, that General Relativity (GR) is soluble forward in time but not backward in time, in a manner like the 1D heat equation Ft = Fxx. 3. We discuss other (known) time-direction asymmetries of GR. All of these ultimately arise, essentially, from the positivity of mass. Hence we argue that, contrary to common false claims, gravitational physics is not time-reversal invariant and defines a unique direction of time as an output not input. Making this argument involves resolving several subtle apparent paradoxes. But nongravitational physics (quantum field theories) obey charge-parity-time reversal invariance CPT. We conclude with the grand Manifesto that all the timeirreversibility phenomena observed in everyday life, including “quantum measurement, ” the 2nd law of thermodynamics, and outgoing-only radiative boundary conditions, ultimately arise from gravitational physics. We outline how that happens and discuss the implications about future quantum gravity theories.
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