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The Possibility of Paradox-Free Time Travel
relliker writes in with word of a paper up on the ArXiv by Seth Lloyd and co-workers, exploring the possibility that "postselection" effects in non-linear quantum mechanics might allow paradox-free time travel. "Lloyd's time machine gets around [the grandfather paradox] because of the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics: anything that this time machine allows can also happen with finite probability anyway... Another interesting feature of this machine is that it does not require any of the distortions of spacetime that traditional time machines rely on. In these, the fabric of spacetime has to be ruthlessly twisted in a way that allows the time travel to occur. ... Postselection can only occur if quantum mechanics is nonlinear, something that seems possible in theory but has never been observed in practice. All the evidence so far is that quantum mechanics is linear. In fact some theorists propose that the seemingly impossible things that postselection allows is a kind of proof that quantum mechanics must be linear."
Has nobody anything snarky to say?
Wow Kdawson did you choose that red colour all by yourself? This surely is big important news. Seeing as time travel is possibly the most pressing scientific issue of the day. Plus the inclusion of non specific aspects of quantum mechanics really lends a sense credibility to the theory.
I used quantum mechanics to type this message out.
I have nothing compelling to say
After reading just a little of that page I feel the need to wash my computer.
and my self...
and my soul
come to think of it my cat is in need of a bath.
Hell while i'm at it maybe I should wash the car.
i take it back...
after reading 1 page of that site I NEED SERIOUS MEDICATION.