Some of the brightest minds currently working in the field of cosmology discuss the two most important questions about time: What is it? and, If time can be seen as a kind of 'arrow', then why do the cosmic and thermodynamic 'arrows' of time agree?

The concept of time has fascinated humanity throughout recorded history, and it remains one of the biggest mysteries in science and philosophy. Time is clearly one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe and thus a deeper understanding of nature at a fundamental level also demands a comprehension of time. Furthermore, the origins of the universe are closely intertwined with the puzzle of time: Did time emerge at the Big Bang? Why does the arrow of time 'conspire' with the order of the initial state of the universe? This book addresses many of the most important questions about time: What is time, and is it fundamental or emergent? Why is there such an arrow of time, closely related to the initial state of the universe, and why do the cosmic, thermodynamic and other arrows agree? These issues are discussed here by leading experts, and each offers a new perspective on the debate. Their contributions delve into the most difficult research topic in physics, also describing the latest cutting edge research on the subject. The book also offers readers a comparison between the different outlooks of philosophy, physics and cosmology on the puzzle of time. This volume is intended to be useful for research purposes, but most chapters are also accessible to a more general audience of scientifically educated readers looking for deeper insights.

A selection of contributions by leading experts on the physics of time. Addresses the most fundamental questions: what is time and how does it arise? Each chapter offers a new and different perspective on the role of time in the cosmos. Provides a comparison between philosophical and physical theories relating to time. Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Rüdiger Vaas is a philosopher, publicist and science journalist for the monthly magazine 'Bild der Wissenschaft'. He holds degrees in biology, philosophy and German language/literature and has specialized in neuro-philosophy and brain research. He is the author of numerous popular books and articles, as well as technical papers.

Klappentext

The concept of time has fascinated humanity throughout history, and remains one of the biggest mysteries in science and philosophy. Yet a deeper understanding of nature at a fundamental level can only be achieved through a comprehension of this strange fourth dimension. Furthermore, the origin of the universe is closely intertwined with the puzzle of time: Did time emerge at the big bang? Why does the direction of time 'conspire' with the remarkably ordered initial state of the universe?

This book addresses many of the most important questions about time: What is time, and is it fundamental or emergent? Why is there such an arrow of time, closely related to the initial state of the universe, and why do the cosmic, thermodynamic and other arrows agree? These issues are discussed here by leading experts, and each offers a new perspective on the debate. Their contributions delve into the most difficult research topic in physics, also describing the latest cutting edge research on the subject. The book also offers readers a comparison between the different outlooks of philosophy, physics and cosmology on the puzzle of time.

This volume is intended to be useful for research purposes, but most chapters are also accessible to a more general audience of scientifically educated readers looking for deeper insights.

Inhalt
Introduction.- The Clock Ambiguity: Implications and New Developments.- Holographic Cosmology and the Arrow of Time.- A "Momentous" Arrow of Time.- The Phantom Bounce: A New Proposal for an Oscillating Cosmology.- The Emergent Nature of Time and the Complex Numbers in Quantum Cosmology.- The Arrow of Time in a Dark-Energy-Dominated Universe.- The Problem of Time for De Sitters Spacetimes.- Fundamental Loss of Quantum Coherence from Quantum Gravity.- Micro-time, Macro-time, and the Pseudo-beginning of the Big Bang.- Open Problems Regarding the Arrow of Time.