The Labyrinth of Time: Introducing the UniverseModern physics has revealed the universe as a much stranger place than we could have imagined. The puzzle at the centre of our knowledge of the universe is time. Michael Lockwood takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the nature of things. He investigates philosophical questions about past, present, and future, our experience of time, and the possibility of time travel. And he provides the most careful, lively, and up-to-date introduction to the physics of time and the structure of the universe.He guides us step by step through relativity theory and quantum physics, introducing and explaining the ground-breaking ideas of Newton and Boltzmann, Einstein and Schroedinger, Penrose and Hawking. We zoom in on the behaviour of molecules and atoms, and pull back to survey the expansion of the universe. We learn about entropy and gravity, black holes and wormholes, about how it all began and where we are all headed. Lockwood's aim is not just to boggle the mind but to lead us towards an understanding of the science and philosophy. Things will never seem the same again after a voyage through The Labyrinth of Time. |
Contents
1 Two Concepts of Time | 1 |
A Marriage is Arranged | 23 |
3 Taking SpaceTime Seriously | 52 |
4 From Flat to Curved SpaceTime | 71 |
5 Weaving the Cosmic Tapestry | 90 |
Science Fact or Science Fiction? | 124 |
The Toils of Paradox | 155 |
Physical Systems and their State Spaces | 178 |
11 Drawn through Life Backwards | 233 |
12 The Unyielding Past | 248 |
13 The Emergence of Order | 257 |
14 From Quantum Jumps to Schrödingers Cat | 282 |
15 Schrödingers TimeTraveller | 322 |
Physics at the Frontier | 331 |
17 The Time of our Lives | 365 |
| 383 | |
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The Labyrinth of Time:Introducing the Universe: Introducing the Universe Michael Lockwood No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
according actually analogy Big Bang black hole Bob’s Boltzmann Cauchy horizon Chapter classical clock closed timelike curves concept coordinate corresponding cosmic cosmological curvature dimensions direction distribution earlier earth Einstein electron energy entropy equations equilibrium event horizon evolution example existence fact frame of reference future geometry given Go¨del Grandfather grandfather paradox gravitational entropy H-theorem happen harmonic oscillator Harriet here-now idea inertial frame inflation initial interval light-cone measurement molecules momentum motion objects observer paradox particles past perspective phase space physical system physicists Planck Planck length position possible predictions principle quantum mechanics radiation reality regard region relativistic represented respect rotating Schro¨dinger Schro¨dinger’s sense singularity so-called space–time space–time manifold space–time point spacelike spatial special relativity specious present spin spin networks string superposition superspace Suppose surface symmetry temporal tensed view tenseless view theory things time-traveller train universe vector velocity world-line wormhole zero