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Quantum Solution to the Arrow-of-Time Dilemma

Author(s)
Maccone, Lorenzo
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Abstract
The arrow-of-time dilemma states that the laws of physics are invariant for time inversion, whereas the familiar phenomena we see everyday are not (i.e., entropy increases). I show that, within a quantum mechanical framework, all phenomena which leave a trail of information behind (and hence can be studied by physics) are those where entropy necessarily increases or remains constant. All phenomena where the entropy decreases must not leave any information of their having happened. This situation is completely indistinguishable from their not having happened at all. In the light of this observation, the second law of thermodynamics is reduced to a mere tautology: physics cannot study those processes where entropy has decreased, even if they were commonplace.
Date issued
2009-08
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51806
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Maccone, Lorenzo . “Quantum Solution to the Arrow-of-Time Dilemma.” Physical Review Letters 103.8 (2009): 080401. © 2009 The American Physical Society.
Version: Final published version
ISSN
0031-9007

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