Time and Quantum Physics (from Evolutionary Theory Conference Summary), Esalen Center for Theory & Research

Evolutionary Theory
An Esalen Invitational Conference
November 14-19, 1999

Time and Quantum Physics
George Sudarshan

George Sudarshan’s presentation spanned both contemporary quantum mechanics as well as Eastern theories of mind and consciousness. In the first part of his presentation, Sudarshan discussed how classical dynamics no longer works in its ability to predict phenomenon. Physicists would like to think they can map movement accurately and definitively, but this is simply not the case given that phenomenon can be described as both particles and waves. Sudarshan’s main point was to draw our attention to the nature of mixing systems, meaning ones in which the trajectory of a particle becomes independent of its original starting point. In other words, using classical dynamics we cannot predict where a particle will be in the future even if we have all the information we need about its current trajectory and location. In short, classical dynamics fails to be predictive, and this is especially the case with ergodic systems, ones in which particles move all over the place.

Sudarshan then turned to the nature of time. Is it reversible or irreversible? According to Sudharshan, this is a highly debated topic in contemporary physics. For all our breakthroughs, physics is far from consensus. There are still many different views regarding whether the passage of time is real. Sudarshan’s contribution to the puzzle was to emphasize that we cannot derive irreversibility (time is not real) from reversible dynamics (time is real).

In an effort to clarify, Tony Rothman offered the analogy of a deck of cards that gets shuffled. The odds are that it will get more disordered (entropy). If you go back in time, the deck also will get more disordered. The situation is symmetrical, and nothing is explained. Time is irreversible. Stuart Kauffman then added that one must take into account the autonomous agent who is preparing the deck of cards in the first place.

Next, Sudarshan turned to quantum mechanics, in particular non-locality and quantum entanglement. In Richard Bach’s Johnathan Livingstone Seagull a wise, Chinese seagull taught that the fastest way to fly is to be there already. This is the case with the quantum world, where experiments have shown that particles travel instantaneously from one place to another, seemingly in betrayal of Einstein’s dictum that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Sudarshan offered that particles are like boats on a river. The river is the substratum, the quantized state of the field. Particles cannot be completely localized. They behave in a non-local manner.

Tony Rothman felt it important to note that there are some problems with the popular metaphor of “the field.” Many New Age authors, such as Deepak Chopra, have adopted it liberally, but Rothman asserted that there is much more ambiguity to the nature of the field than a simple New Age interpretation offers.

Sudarshan asserted that there are two areas for physics to focus on in the future. First, the black body problem. How is it that empty space has a specific heat capacity? And second, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics needs to be studied with respect to both open and closed systems.

In the last part of his presentation Sudarshan tackled the issue of consciousness. In particular he called for a rigorous first person empirical science and made reference to Charles Tart’s state specific science. Physics needs to study altered states of consciousness. Sudarshan called for a cosmology of the inner universe.