The Arrow of Time in Physics

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Jafari, Ghadir | 2011

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Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
Language: Farsi
Document No: 42281 (04)
University: Sharif University of Technology
Department: Physics
Advisor(s): Golshani, Mehdi
Abstract:
For more than a century, physicists have recognized the contrast between the asymmetry of thermodynamic phenomena and T-symmetry of the fundamental laws, and they have referred to it as the arrow of time. In this thesis we tried to give an overview of the past and present status of this problem, using various theories. It is shown that the problem becomes a question about the boundary conditions of thermodynamic systems, and then a question about cosmology, and finally it becomes the problem of initial conditions of universe. An analysis of initial condition theories is presented for knowing how each of them tries to solve the problem of arrow of time. Different views about the relationship between cosmological and the thermodynamic arrow of time in contraction or expansion phases of the Universe are given. Finally, by rejecting the theories that try to extract the arrow of time from time-symmetric laws, it is argued that either we should take for granted the asymmetric boundary conditions or we should accept the existence of an asymmetric law among our fundamental laws. This asymmetric law may indicate a violation of CPT symmetry in quantum gravity
Keywords:
Cosmology ; Thermodynamics Second Law ; Time Arrow ; Time Assimetry ; Fundamental Laws

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