Quantum-mechanical twin paradox
In the twin paradox of special relativity, an observer that travels along an accelerated trajectory at a high velocity will experience a smaller amount of elapsed time than an observer that remains at rest. This illustrates the fact that time is relative unlike the situation in classical physics whe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2016-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/10/101001 |
| _version_ | 1827873718053896192 |
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| author | J D Franson |
| author_facet | J D Franson |
| author_sort | J D Franson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the twin paradox of special relativity, an observer that travels along an accelerated trajectory at a high velocity will experience a smaller amount of elapsed time than an observer that remains at rest. This illustrates the fact that time is relative unlike the situation in classical physics where time is absolute. In a recent paper, Bushev et al (2016 New J. Phys. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/9/093050 18 http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/9/093050 ) showed that the twin paradox can also be demonstrated using a single electron that functions as a quantum-mechanical clock. The wave function of the electron can travel along two different paths simultaneously, which allows a measurement of the difference in proper times along the two trajectories using a single particle. Quantum interference effects show that time cannot be thought of as a classical parameter even when associated with a single clock or observer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:42:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05b97b4431c8400e991ed9a438ab50be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:42:07Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-05b97b4431c8400e991ed9a438ab50be2023-08-08T14:24:22ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302016-01-01181010100110.1088/1367-2630/18/10/101001Quantum-mechanical twin paradoxJ D Franson0Physics Department, University of Maryland Baltimore County , Baltimore, MD 21250 USAIn the twin paradox of special relativity, an observer that travels along an accelerated trajectory at a high velocity will experience a smaller amount of elapsed time than an observer that remains at rest. This illustrates the fact that time is relative unlike the situation in classical physics where time is absolute. In a recent paper, Bushev et al (2016 New J. Phys. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/9/093050 18 http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/9/093050 ) showed that the twin paradox can also be demonstrated using a single electron that functions as a quantum-mechanical clock. The wave function of the electron can travel along two different paths simultaneously, which allows a measurement of the difference in proper times along the two trajectories using a single particle. Quantum interference effects show that time cannot be thought of as a classical parameter even when associated with a single clock or observer.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/10/101001twin paradoxquantum superpositionrelativity theoryPenning trap |
| spellingShingle | J D Franson Quantum-mechanical twin paradox New Journal of Physics twin paradox quantum superposition relativity theory Penning trap |
| title | Quantum-mechanical twin paradox |
| title_full | Quantum-mechanical twin paradox |
| title_fullStr | Quantum-mechanical twin paradox |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantum-mechanical twin paradox |
| title_short | Quantum-mechanical twin paradox |
| title_sort | quantum mechanical twin paradox |
| topic | twin paradox quantum superposition relativity theory Penning trap |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/10/101001 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jdfranson quantummechanicaltwinparadox |