Multiple time dimensions

The possibility that there might be more than one dimension of time has occasionally been discussed in physics and philosophy. Similar ideas appear in folklore and fantasy literature.

Physics

Speculative theories with more than one time dimension have been explored in physics. The additional dimensions may be similar to conventional time,<ref name="craig">Craig, Walter; Weinstein, Steven (2009-07-15). "On determinism and well-posedness in multiple time dimensions". Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. The Royal Society. 465 (2110): 3023–3046. arXiv:0812.0210. Bibcode:2009RSPSA.465.3023C. doi:10.1098/rspa.2009.0097. ISSN 1364-5021.</ref> compactified like the additional spatial dimensions in string theory,<ref>Terning, J; Bars, I (2009). Extra Dimensions in Space and Time. New York: Springer. doi:10.1515/9783110697827. ISBN 9780387776385.</ref> or components of a complex time (sometimes referred to as kime).<ref name="dinov">Dinov, Ivo; Velev, Milen (2021). Data Science - Time Complexity, Inferential Uncertainty, and Spacekime Analytics. Boston/Berlin: De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110697827. ISBN 9783110697803.</ref>

Itzhak Bars has proposed models of a two-time physics, noting in 2001 that "The 2T-physics approach in d + 2 dimensions offers a highly symmetric and unified version of the phenomena described by 1T-physics in d dimensions."<ref>Marcus Chown, "Time gains an extra dimension!", New Scientist, 13 October 2007.(Subscription link)</ref><ref>Itzhak Bars; "U*(1,1) noncommutative gauge theory as the foundation of 2T-physics in field theory", Phys. Rev. D 64 (2001) 126001 ArXiv copy.</ref>

F-theory, a branch of modern string theory, describes a 12-dimensional spacetime having two dimensions of time, giving it the metric signature (10,2).<ref>Penrose, Roger. (2004). The Road to Reality. Jonathan Cape. Page 915.</ref>

The existence of a well-posed initial value problem for the ultrahyperbolic equation (a wave equation in more than one time dimension) demonstrates that initial data on a mixed (spacelike and timelike) hypersurface, obeying a particular nonlocal constraint, evolves deterministically in the remaining time dimension.<ref name="craig" />

Like other complex number variables, complex time is two-dimensional, comprising one real time dimension and one imaginary time dimension, changing time from a real number line into a complex plane.<ref name="dinov" /> Introducing it into Minkowski spacetime allows a generalization of Kaluza–Klein theory.<ref>Chodos, Alan; Freund, PGO; Appelquist, Thomas (1987). Modern Kaluza-Klein Theories. United Kingdom: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 9780201098297.</ref>

Max Tegmark has argued that, if there is more than one time dimension, then the behavior of physical systems could not be predicted reliably from knowledge of the relevant partial differential equations. In such a universe, intelligent life capable of manipulating technology could not emerge. Moreover protons and electrons would be unstable and could decay into particles having greater mass than themselves. (This is not a problem if the particles have a sufficiently low temperature.)<ref name="tegmark-dim">Tegmark, Max (April 1997). "On the dimensionality of spacetime" (PDF). Classical and Quantum Gravity. 14 (4): L69–L75. arXiv:gr-qc/9702052. Bibcode:1997CQGra..14L..69T. doi:10.1088/0264-9381/14/4/002. S2CID 15694111. Retrieved 2006-12-16.</ref>

Philosophy

Multiple time dimensions appear to allow the breaking or re-ordering of cause-and-effect in the flow of any one dimension of time. This and conceptual difficulties with multiple physical time dimensions have been raised in modern analytic philosophy.<ref>Weinstein, Steven. "Many Times". Foundational Questions Institute. Retrieved 5 December 2013.</ref>

As a solution to the problem of the subjective passage of time, J. W. Dunne proposed an infinite hierarchy of time dimensions, inhabited by a similar hierarchy of levels of consciousness. Dunne suggested that, in the context of a "block" spacetime as modelled by General Relativity, a second dimension of time was needed in order to measure the speed of one's progress along one's own timeline. This in turn required a level of the conscious self existing at the second level of time. But the same arguments then applied to this new level, requiring a third level, and so on in an infinite regress. At the end of the regress was a "superlative general observer" who existed in eternity.<ref>McDonald, John Q. (15 November 2006). "John's Book Reviews: An Experiment with Time". Retrieved 8 December 2012.</ref> He published his theory in relation to precognitive dreams in his 1927 book An Experiment with Time and went on to explore its relevance to contemporary physics in The Serial Universe (1934). His infinite regress was criticised as logically flawed and unnecessary, although writers such as J. B. Priestley acknowledged the possibility of his second time dimension.<ref>J.A. Gunn; The Problem of Time, Unwin, 1929.</ref><ref>J.B. Priestley, Man and Time, Aldus, 1964.</ref>

The Esoteric J. G. Bennett described three dimensions or aspects of time: a) Time – Causal or determinate influences on the present moment, b) Eternity – The influences of forms and values, c) Hyparxis – The influences of the Will (freedom) to choose within the present Moment. The physical world, life and consciousness lie in intermediate zones between these dimensions.<ref>Bennett, J. G. (1956). Dramatic Universe.</ref> Physicist David Bohm corresponded with Bennett and they influenced each other's ideas.<ref>Anthony Blake (Ed). The Bohm-Bennett Correspondence, 2016. Online version.</ref>

Literary fiction

Multiple independent timeframes, in which time passes at different rates, have long been a feature of fairy tales.<ref name="Flieger"/> Fantasy writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis have made use of these and other multiple time dimensions, such as those proposed by Dunne, in some of their most well-known stories.<ref name="Flieger"/> It has been argued that Tolkien borrowed his ideas for Lórien time in The Lord of the Rings,<ref name="Flieger">Flieger, V.; A Question of Time: JRR Tolkien's Road to Faerie, Kent State University Press, 1997.</ref> and that Lewis adopted them for his Chronicles of Narnia.<ref>Inchbald, Guy; "The Last Serialist: C.S. Lewis and J.W. Dunne", Mythlore, Issue 137, Vol. 37 No. 2, Spring/Summer 2019, pp. 75–88.</ref>

See also

• Dimensions of spacetime relating to the Anthropic principle.
• Multiverse: Parallel universes

External links

• Bars, Itzhak (2010-11-20). "Gauge Symmetry in Phase Space, Consequences for Physics and Spacetime". International Journal of Modern Physics A. 25 (29): 5235–5252. arXiv:1004.0688. Bibcode:2010IJMPA..25.5235B. doi:10.1142/s0217751x10051128. ISSN 0217-751X. S2CID 119000242.