Generally, so-called Planck time interval: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_time is usually supposed to be an "elementary time interval".
Experimentally, the least measured time interval until now is ~10-18 s, it is 1026 units of Planck time. Anyway, the accuracy of the measurement of any time interval is limited by the Heisenberg principle of uncertainty, so the possibility to confirm the discrete nature of time strictly looks to be unlikely, as my modest opinion.
I think time is periodic (quantized). This solves many problems that continuous linear time theories cannot solve. The quanta of time are periods of the waves. Smallest being inverse of Planck frequency. Every particle is its own clock.
https://arxiv.org/abs/0805.2233
Article Periodic relativity: Basic framework of the theory
“Is the time continous or discrite / quantum ?What are the quanta of time ? ”
The notion/phenomenon “Time”, as well as the notion/phenomenon “Space” ,are Meta-mainstream-philosophical and so Meta-mainstream-other sciences notions/phenomena; thus they can be properly/rationally defined/understandable only in the “The information as Absolute” conception https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260930711_the_Information_as_Absolute ,
where it is shown that both they are ultimately fundamental Rules/possibilities, which, together with a number of other ultimately fundamental Rules/possibilities, are necessary for that something can be some information, i.e. be understandable at interactions of at least pair of some objects, which are correspondingly some informational patterns.
At that in the conception it is rigorously proven that all what exists in the system “our Universe”, including the system “Matter”, is/are only some informational patterns/systems of patterns, which are elements of the absolutely fundamental and absolutely infinite “Information” Set.
These Rules/possibilities concretely establish that to be understandable the informational patterns and systems of patterns must:
- “Space” as the Possibility establishes that to exist for a fixed information at all there exists something what is called the “space” and every fixed informational pattern always occupies some non-zero “spatial interval”; as the Rule it establishes that in the systems of patterns between different patterns there must be a non-zero “spatial intervals”, including when the same pattern is “rewritten”, i.e. “is moved” in the space.
Thus every change of the configurations of fixed patterns is obligatorily accompanied by corresponding spatial intervals, what is observable as a motion of patterns in the space;
- “Time” as the Possibility establishes that to exist for a dynamical, i.e., changing, information at all there exists something what is called the “time” and every dynamical informational pattern always occupies some non-zero “temporal interval”; as the Rule it establishes that in the systems of patterns between different states of changing patterns there must be a non-zero “temporal intervals”, including when the same fixed pattern is moving in the space.
Thus every change of internal states of the patterns and/or configurations of fixed patterns in a dynamical systems is obligatorily accompanied by corresponding spatial intervals, what is observable as a motion of patterns in the time.
At that:
- these two Rules/possibilities form absolutely necessary for existence of every system of patterns the system’s “spacetime”, which is composed from the possibilities as be consisted of corresponding spatial and temporal “dimensions”; when
they by no means establish – what both intervals must be, the unique requirement is that the intervals can be even infinitesimal, but must be not equal to zero exactly.
Correspondingly there are no “own” inherent “measure units” “quanta”, etc. for the space and time intervals; the systems spacetimes are simply some “empty containers”, the emptiness hasn’t measure, “be discrete”, etc.; as well as there cannot be spatial or temporal “flows” somewhere. Thus there is no sense to define some spatial “sizes” for some unique fixed patterns and some “time” intervals for unique changes of unique patterns, but these parameters became be definable if a system consists of more then two patterns, then one pattern can be more then or equal to the other, and one pattern can be changed earlier or simultaneously then/with the other. It is evident that such comparisons are principally relative.
The concrete spacetimes for concrete systems are composed from concrete sets of the dimensions that are defined [are necessary for existence and changes of concrete systems] completely by the systems only.. In the system “writing text” the space is composed of usually 2D piece of paper and 1D temporal dimension. Matter’s spacetime [more see https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273777630_The_Informational_Conception_and_Basic_Physics] is [absolute] [5]4D Euclidian empty container/manifold in scientific theories, etc.
The informational system “Matter” is a system of uninterruptedly changing, because of the energy conservation law, informational patterns, and all/every changes are accompanied by spatial and temporal intervals, what is observed, for example as that Newton claimed, as some “time flow”, but that isn’t so. Again - the time hasn’t some inherent flows, “arrows of time”, etc., the observed “time flow” simply is constantly increasing time interval that totally passively accompanies the constant changing of Matter; which, in turn, simply constantly and always evolves from given state to usually a most probable state; including when the changes are deterministic – simply the next state in this case has the probability be equal to 1.
Besides all/every material objects are some uninterruptedly running close-loop logical algorithms so Matter is a system of constantly running automata, which, and Matter as a whole, operate with seems rather stable fundamental operation rate and logical transitions are fundamentally universal and equivalent at changing of spatial positions and at changing steps of internal states of the automata themselves.
Just therefore it is possible to establish temporal and spatial etalons, which are used at relative measurements of temporal and spatial intervals, to characterize the states of material objects and systems by using temporal and spatial coordinates, etc., etc., etc.
And the “flipping” of the “computer’s “Matter” fundamental “logical gates” seems as indeed proceeds with corresponding “discrete” flipping temporal and spatial intervals be equal to the Planck time, τ, and Planck length, lP, values, when the standard speed of light is a derived unit c=lP/ τ. But, again, that isn’t a discreteness of the time, that is a fundamental parameter of Matter.
More – see the links above.
Cheers
Article the Information as Absolute
Article The Informational Conception and Basic Physics
Thaks guys
Its a fascinating problem
I think its cucial to mind body problem ad well
Jerzy
Hello Jerzy,
No one throughout history has ever known what time is or why it occurs.
If it is not known what time is, then there is no way to know, for sure, whether time is continuous or discrete.
No one has ever discovered the intrinsic nature of time, the basis of time in the universe, because the study of the qualities of time does not reveal what time is. The qualities of time do not reveal the basis of time.
Studying the qualities of time is a top down process which does not go down far enough to identify the intrinsic nature of time, the basis of time.
It turns out that the only way to find out what time is requires a bottom up approach. But finding such an approach can happen only by luck. This happened to me, and I am providing you here with links to papers that explain the intrinsic nature of time. These papers answer the questions, What is time?, Why does time occur?, and Why does time have the specific qualities that it has?
Based on the knowledge of the basis of time in the universe, it becomes evident that time is continuous, that is, the basis of time is intrinsically continuous.
The discovery of the basis of time was serendipitous. I was not then working on the question of time. Rather I was studying space, specifically the continuing-existence of space. (This is the continuing-existence of space as measured by a clock, not the extension of three-dimensional space as measured by a ruler.)
While looking at space, I came upon the basis of time unexpectedly—by way of a bottom-up approach.
My work involves developing methodology for multi-discipline-spanning transdisciplinary understanding that enhances communication between the disciplines. To develop the methodology it is necessary to examine and compare the real-world subject matters of the various disciplines. Every component of the transdisciplinary understanding must be true in every discipline in which the component occurs.
When listing the intrinsic qualities of the continuing-existence of space, for transdisciplinary purposes, it became evident that these qualities of an aspect of space were the same as the qualities that can realistically be attributed to time.
In the universe, spatial-continuing-existence plays all the roles of time, and is thereby the basis of time in the universe
Spatial-continuing-existence is time due to the general role of spatial-continuing-existence in the universe. This role is a consequence of the role in the universe of space itself.
In the real-world, space can be observed to exist as extensional three-dimensional immaterial place. Spatial-place provides an existential-context, a place-to-be, for all that exists. For example, matter occupies, exists in, spatial-place. The three-dimensional extensional qualities of matter occupy the three-dimensional extension of spatial-place.
Continuing-existence is a form of change. The general role of spatial-continuing-existence is that it provides an existential-context, a place-to-occur, for all forms of change. All forms of ongoing change occur in concert, simultaneously, with the continuously ongoing change-existential-context provided by the continuing-existence of the spatial-place in which those changes are occurring.
The reason I keep referring to the universe, and to roles in the universe, is because the discussion here, and in the paper, is not about concepts. It is about the reality-referents of concepts. It is not about the concept of time. It is about time itself. Concepts are recognized to be mental tools that are used by the mind to achieve understanding of the world outside the mind, outside the brain.
Regards,
Vincent Vesterby
Vesterby, Vincent. 2014. The Identification of the Intrinsic Nature of Time.
https://philpapers.org/rec/VESTIO-4
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299437469_The_Identification_of_the_Intrinsic_Nature_of_Time
https://www.academia.edu/21710898/The_Identification_of_the_Intrinsic_Nature_of_Time
There are two more papers that help explain the intrinsic nature of time.
Paul Davies and Why Time Is Not a Flow.
Vesterby, Vincent. 2016. Paul Davies and Why Time Is Not a Flow.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309619974_Paul_Davies_and_Why_Time_Is_Not_a_Flow
Temporal Naturalism—Analysis of the Paper by Lee Smolin.
Vesterby, Vincent. 2017. Temporal Naturalism—Analysis of the Paper by Lee Smolin.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313604997_TEMPORAL_NATURALISM_ANALYSIS_OF_THE_PAPER_BY_LEE_SMOLIN
Research The Identification of the Intrinsic Nature of Time
Article Paul Davies and Why Time Is Not a Flow
Article TEMPORAL NATURALISM—ANALYSIS OF THE PAPER BY LEE SMOLIN
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