Six-Dimensional Space-Time Theory

eldavojohn writes "PhysOrg is covering an interesting year-old paper that proposes an alternative six-dimensional theory of space and time. George Sparling's proposition, based on Einstein's general relativity and Elie Cartan's triality, is a twistor space (which I've only read of in Roger Penrose's latest work). The gist is that space-time is modeled not by four dimensions but by six, and that the extra two dimensions are time-like. Sparling is hoping that tests from the Large Hadron Collider will help prove his theory. The paper is heavy but the PhysOrg article summarizes it nicely."

Comments

Number of the Beast

[rossdee]

Hmm 6 dimensions, 3 of space and 3 of time...

Definately sounds like Jacob Burrough's theory (from the book by R A Heinlein)

Re:Consequences of three dimensional time?

[Coryoth]

I read the article, but I really don't understand the consequences of the theory. What would it mean for there to be more than one time dimension? That's really not at all clear. They aren't so much extra "time" dimensions as in extra directions of time, as extra time-like dimensions which has a specific meaning that refers to how they behave in calculating space-time distances. Ultimately they are the product of a purely mathematical model and, unless the author has something more in mind than is presented in the paper, exactly what sort of physical interpretation they might have is utterly unclear.

Of course mathematical models sometimes help us frame ideas about physical reality that we have trouble otherwise perceiving. Lorentz and Poincare developed much of the mathematics of special relativity as a mathematical model of electrodynamics using an "apparent time" that they viewed as an artificial mathematical construct necessary to make the model work. Einstein provided the insight that this "artificial" time was actually a real effect by making a conceptual shift about what simultaneity means, and special relativity was born.

For now the extra time-like dimensions are simply artificial creations of a mathematical model, we still await an insight to explain how they fit in with our own pereceptions of the universe.

Re:Consequences of three dimensional time?

[thefirelane]

Hi, I'm not a physicist, and I didn't read the article, but I think I can help you out

Could that help explain human temporal perception (you can "feel" time slow down or time flies by when having fun)?
No

Can our consciousness span more or less of these other dimensions of time at need?
No

Would this help explain the apparent causality problem of neuromuscular control (humans seem able to send the neural command to catch the ball before our senses could have delivered the signal that it should be caught)?
No

Could the existence of extra time dimensions have implications regarding the existence of free will?
No

You're welcome.

Re:Cranks love their Tesla

[salec]

What is it about Tesla that attracts the kooks?

That's an easy one:

- spectacular (unlike subatomic particles physics ones which are observed only indirectly, over sensor arrays and computer imagery), high energy experiments, plus
- his own tendency to perform publicity stunts and make bombastic, yet sherlock-holmes-esque mysterious announcements (because... Tesla was independent, not academic researcher and was always on a hunt for venture capital) about his future work, plus,
- on top of it all his failure to accomplish something he announced, which could had been very revolutionary in every sense (perhaps most notable being social sense) of that word, apparently not because it was physically impossible, but because he was pulled back by "The Man", gave him an aureole of saint-like hero in eyes of a common man (as well as kooks).

There are numerous examples that oral traditions attach mythical supernatural (or at least greater than actual) powers to beloved heroes in collective folk memory. Tesla is one of most recent of such characters and perhaps first that transcended national and ethnic barriers (after all, in his own mind his public was global). Other notable popular hero figures are, of course, Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Bruce Lee, Mother Theresa, ... (apologies for anyone left out of the list)... but those of them who (apparently) didn't fulfill their full perceived potential will of course generate more legends (Bruce Lee). Well, the same goes for legend-generating potential of antiheroes (no mentions, we DON'T say their cursed, wicked names aloud :D !), more so because they tend to be stopped in their tracks more often (if they don't, as some notable dictators who died of old age, they don't make it into legends and quickly fade into oblivion).

Scientists love their Tesla, too

[fyngyrz]

All of that may have various degrees of truth to it, but you're being quite unfair by not mentioning that another key factor was that the things Tesla actually accomplished and demonstrated, many of which have found their way into our current common base of technology, were quite spectacular in terms of utility, innovation, and being leading edge for the time.

Many researchers, academic and independent, spend their entire lives trying to come up with just one useful idea. Tesla produced them regularly and dependably.

I often wonder what Tesla would have come up with if he was living and working in our current technological / scientific environment. In my view, the man seemed to think so far "out of the box" that you couldn't even find the box from where he was.