Researchers at the University of Toronto have confirmed that “negative time” is a tangible concept in physics. The findings, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, challenge our understanding of time and its relation to quantum mechanics.
A team led by Daniela Angulo explored the interaction between light and matter. When photons pass through atoms, some are absorbed and later re-emitted, changing the atoms temporarily. In this process, the duration of the excited state turned out to be negative – a concept previously dismissed as meaningless.
The researchers measured how long these atoms stayed in their excited state, finding that the time was less than zero. This effect, similar to measuring carbon monoxide levels after the first few cars emerged from a tunnel, has sparked both fascination and skepticism within the scientific community.
Critically, the findings do not violate Einstein’s theory of special relativity or suggest the possibility of time travel. Instead, they shed light on the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, where particles like photons behave in fuzzy ways rather than following strict rules.
The researchers acknowledge that practical applications remain elusive but argue that their research addresses crucial gaps in understanding why light doesn’t always travel at a constant speed. While controversy surrounds their findings, no serious scientist has challenged the experimental results.
Source: https://japantoday.com/category/tech/scientists-observe-‘negative-time’-in-quantum-experiments