Quantum Physics 123: Monday 3 October

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor fairly BOUNCES into class this morning, wearing one of his typical brown pin-striped suits. He looks almost too cheerful, but is genuine.]

Hello all--please turn in your homework, synopsising last week's discussion. Mr Gaeta--your homework from last week is late, please get it to me as soon as possible. And has anyone found Mr Sark yet?

Today, we're going to discuss the possibility of inter-universal travel. Using the principles of quantum physics, we've determined that it is, in fact, possible to travel in time and space, but only within one's own universe.
So how do we explain the existence of a place such as this? [gestures around him to the school] How do we explain interactions with versions of ourselves that I don't REMEMBER with the mysterious 'dopplegaengers' about? That latter question seems to be on everyone's mind.

No homework for Wednesday. I just want a good discussion.

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Homework

On Earth, time travel is largely thought impossible. Earth's scientists do not believe that time can be manipulated in such a way that would allow any one person to go backwards or forwards with the technology and/or understanding Earth currently has.

---

John squirms a bit at the mention of dopplegaengers. "Well sir, isn't there some saying somewhere that says we all have a twin?"

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

::nudges Crichton with her elbow::

Yes. And if you go to this school, you'll eventually run into them. ::giggle::

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John shrugs.

"True. This place almost seems like a magnet for twins, look alikes, and people of similar physical features. Eerie, almost."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Sadly, you all have only one of me around. ::smile::

So... how do we explain things like, say... the look-a-likes pairing up similarly... ::smirks and eyes Crichton::

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but *how* and *why*? I mean, is this a case of infinite universes spinning off from each other -- in one, your parents named you John and in another they named you Cameron and in both you want to fly space ships?

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Good genes?

*laughs*

No, seriously, time travel is something I've thought about in regards to wormholes and this other theory I'm working on. On Earth, there seems to be no way to open a portal into a time/space continuum. In a wormhole? Alternate universes and alternate dimensions are entirely likely. Where did I come from? North Carolina? Where did Cameron come from? Not sure but it's safe to say we were both born on Earth. If I use the wormhole theory to answer your question, either Cam or I got dumped here by a wormhole and were none the wiser.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Or were born in closely parallel Earths and both got dumped at Fandom High.

Which brings up the nature of exactly what world we're in NOW. Is this a distinct dimension? Or a crossroads?

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Earth as a rest stop? Heh. Given the unusual nature of this school, the walks of life that are...walking around inside and outside, I'd guess that this is some kind of crossroads for each of us our homes. Also, given that the scientists on this planet have yet to discover any means of time travel makes me more apt to say this is a crossroads planet, a stopping point where people pass through and leave by their own means.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

So... makes me wonder if it's even possible to talk about laws of the universe when we aren't really sure what universe we're in.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Probably not. If I ever get to time travel, I better not forget my towel. And if the laws of the universe are as complex as I think they are, we'll probably never what's the real universe and what're just stops on the way.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Forget your... towel? *furrowed brow*

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's kind of like always wearing clean underwear because you never know what's going to happen on any given day.

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I hate those things *has bad memories of gholas and the Bene Tleilaxu*

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

What do you mean, Lady Jessica?

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

::turns in essay detailing how Time Travel isn't really possible in the Twelve Colonies::

Look, sir! ::grinning:: I got hands!

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[smiles genuinely at her] Fantastic, Ms Cally. I'm glad that you're doing better.

[soniabelmont.livejournal.com]

Homework:

For those in early 15th century Romania, the idea of time-travel is not simply unbelievable, it's unheard of. Even suggesting the possibility of the concept might be enought to land vun in a madhouse. To them, time is a linear, unchangeable thing.

Personal experience has taught me othervise, though. Vaking up to find yourself in a vurld five centuries later vill do that.

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Not in this class, just found it funny that you post this the same day my Psych class decides to start a discussion about Existentialism, Parrellel Universes, and the possiblitiy of Time Travel. I'm a freak. I know.]

[phases-of-kitty.livejournal.com]

At home, time travel is possible, if uncommon. We have had visitors from the future - or at least, a future - and my friend Illyana can travel in space and time, but she has to go through an alternate dimension called Limbo to do it.

[bluemanoncampus.livejournal.com]

Is Illyana someone who joined the Institute after I left? I don't remember anyone who could travel through time. Teleport, yes, but time travel, no.

Also, when did you get that... dragon? Dragonet?

[bluemanoncampus.livejournal.com]

::hands in a verbose, but accurate overview of last session's conversation::

When traveling to alternate world-lines, I can think of at least two different ways of doing so. The first is most directly related to temporal travel and manipulation, using the branching time-lines theory. You could travel back to the "closest" split-moment that would lead to the world you wish to visit, then travel future-ward to the temporospatial position you desire. Of course, this is only useful for travel to worlds with a common history and mandates that the laws of reality must remain the same for each timeline you visit.

The other alternative I can conceive of is to travel ana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana_%28mathematics%29) or kata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_%28mathematics%29) through a hyperspatial environment. No common history is required and I don't see any reason why the laws of physics would necessarily have to match.

Of course, once we postulate that inter-universal travel is possible at all, the further possibility of interacting with doppelgängers becomes very real.

[littleluck.livejournal.com]

*turns in a rambling, semi-coherent essay on how time travel is obviously possible on Earth because she knows a few people who've tried it*

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

[ooc: ::snicker:: Just a few. That whole "Huh, I'm kinda older than my parents thing" isn't an indication about Cable's time travelling, no... not at all.]

[sparkplugfelix.livejournal.com]

::turns in concise homework::