Time Symmetry in Microphysics

dc.creatorPrice, Huw
dc.date1996-10-22
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T06:14:00Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T06:14:00Z
dc.descriptionPhysics takes for granted that interacting physical systems with no common history are independent, before their interaction. This principle is time-asymmetric, for no such restriction applies to systems with no common future, after an interaction. The time-asymmetry is normally attributed to boundary conditions. I argue that there are two distinct independence principles of this kind at work in contemporary physics, one of which cannot be attributed to boundary conditions, and therefore conflicts with the assumed T (or CPT) symmetry of microphysics. I note that this may have interesting ramifications in quantum mechanics.
dc.description10 pages, Latex. Draft of a paper for a symposium at the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, Cleveland, Ohio, 1--3 November, 1996. Also available in html and rtf at http://plato.stanford.edu/price/preprints/PSA96.html
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9610036
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9610036
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/93308
dc.subjectQuantum Physics
dc.titleTime Symmetry in Microphysics
dc.typetext

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