Thread: Wave length collapse in corrispondence to time travel (back in time)

I have always leaned towards the view of "wave function collapse" (reduction of the wave packet) opposed to the alternate dimensions ("multi-verse" or "many worlds") view. And I've always been under the common view that going "back" in time was impossible; although going into the future is theoretically possible, considering the necessary requirements (being able to go fast enough, having enough space, etc. etc.) But I never connected the ideas of multiple dimensions and the theoretical effects of going "back" in time until I saw the movie 'Donnie Darko' today on tv. The movie blew my mind, and you'll have to see it to understand the base line. Essentially, it made me realize that going back in time would inherently and immediately create alternate dimensions (multi-verses) because anything you did differently when you went back in time would create a different dimension and a chain of events that would follow in its respective dimension. After the movie sparked my thinking about these thoughts, it kind of sealed the deal for me and confirmed my view of "wave function collapse" (that we are not currently living in other dimensions or multi verses at the same time, but radther, the wave functions "collapse" when we make a decision. The other possible realities or possible repercussions no longer exist. I just thought I'd share my thoughts on this, and I'd be more than happy to hear other views/comments!

Originally Posted by jr2443

I have always leaned towards the view of "wave function collapse" (reduction of the wave packet) opposed to the alternate dimensions ("multi-verse" or "many worlds") view. And I've always been under the common view that going "back" in time was impossible; although going into the future is theoretically possible, considering the necessary requirements (being able to go fast enough, having enough space, etc. etc.) But I never connected the ideas of multiple dimensions and the theoretical effects of going "back" in time until I saw the movie 'Donnie Darko' today on tv. The movie blew my mind, and you'll have to see it to understand the base line. Essentially, it made me realize that going back in time would inherently and immediately create alternate dimensions (multi-verses) because anything you did differently when you went back in time would create a different dimension and a chain of events that would follow in its respective dimension. After the movie sparked my thinking about these thoughts, it kind of sealed the deal for me and confirmed my view of "wave function collapse" (that we are not currently living in other dimensions or multi verses at the same time, but radther, the wave functions "collapse" when we make a decision. The other possible realities or possible repercussions no longer exist. I just thought I'd share my thoughts on this, and I'd be more than happy to hear other views/comments!

The concept of wave function collapse is not needed in quantum mechanics. The McGraw Hill Encyclopaedia of Science and Technology is a huge work with volumes on QM and does not even have "wave function collapse" in the index.

It is a confused idea that results from improper understanding of statistics by many physicists. All it means is that something was observed and as a result the conditional probability of various events has been updated. There is no actual thing that happens outside of the observation. Just some possibilities are now known to be untrue.

I've always had a problem with this idea that universes split when 'we make a decision'. Very anthropomorphic. It's not (just) about if you decide to go left or right. Everything, at all times, is 'making decisions' that would be splitting the universe. Not just will a dog bark or not, or the flea on a dog bite him or not, but will a particle decay or not, and if so, in which direction will the results fly. That is to say, every particle in the universe has the potential at every moment of time, to create infinite possibilities. Seems a bit much, really.

Even the mere thought of going back in time is a forward action and whatever you could experience or experiment with would also be a forward action. Even the entanglement of a particle that happens in the same instant a million miles apart is a forward in time action. The end comes after the start and not the other way around. Even "NOW" falls forward. You think a word, you can't unthink it !