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arXiv:1407.3384hep-th

Why do we remember the past and not the future? The 'time oriented coarse graining' hypothesis

Carlo Rovelli

Abstract

Phenomenological arrows of time can be traced to a past low-entropy state. Does this imply the universe was in an improbable state in the past? I suggest a different possibility: past low-entropy depends on the coarse-graining implicit in our definition of entropy. This, in turn depends on our physical coupling to the rest of the world. I conjecture that $any$ generic motion of a sufficiently rich system satisfies the second law of thermodynamics, in either direction of time, for $some$ choice of macroscopic observables. The low entropy of the past could then be due to the way we couple to the universe (a way needed for us doing what we do), hence to our natural macroscopic variables, rather than to a strange past microstate of the world at large.

arXiv comments
5 pages. Few equations. An idea
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
hep-thHigh Energy Physics, Theory cond-mat.stat-mechStatistical Mechanics gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

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Linked by 2 identifiable commenters in 2 comments across 2 threads, from Nov 2018 to Jul 2022. Found in 1 HN submission from Jul 2014 to Jul 2014. Open submission discussions.

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  1. Does the Past Still Exist? 1 comment
    • Particularly his work on relational quantum mechanics and course-graining model of entropy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_quantum_mechanics https://arxiv.org/abs/1407.3384

      goldenkeyView on HNParent context

    • I haven't read Rovelli's pop-sci book. Could you glance through the table of contents and/or the index and look for, among other things, "thermal time" and "time emerges in a world without time"? I would be astonished if he did not discuss these ideas at length in his book. >…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

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