# QUANTIZED SPACE-TIME AND TIME’S ARROW

## Abstract

Motivated by the latest direct detection of time assymetry in Kaon decay at CERN and Fermilab, we suggest a theoretical rationale for this puzzle, in terms of quantized time.

<sup>0</sup><sup>0</sup>footnotetext: Email:birlasc@hd1.vsnl.net.in  

The arrow of time has been a puzzle for a long time. As is well known, the laws of Newtonian Mechanics, Electromagnetism or Quantum Theory do not provide an arrow of time - they are equally valid under time reversal, with only one exception. This is in the well known problem of Kaon decay. On the other hand it is in Thermodynamics and Cosmology that we find an arrow of time.   
It is also true that there has been no theoretical rationale for the Kaon puzzle which we will touch upon shortly. We will try to find such a theoretical understanding in the context of quantized space-time, $`\mathrm{}/(\text{energy})`$, that is the Compton time. It may be mentioned that the concept of discrete time or chronon has a long history.   
Let us start with one of the simplest quantum mechanical systems, one which can be in either of two sates separated by a small energy

$$ı\mathrm{}\frac{d\psi _ı}{dt}ı\mathrm{}[\frac{\psi _ı(t+n\tau )\psi _ı(t)}{n\tau }]=\underset{ı=1}{\overset{2}{}}H_{ıj}\psi _ı$$
(1)   
$$\psi _ı=e^{\frac{ı}{\mathrm{}}Et}\varphi _ı$$

where,   
$`H_{11}=H_{22}`$ (which we set $`=0`$ as only relative energies of the two levels are being considered) and $`H_{12}=H_{21}=E`$, by symmetry. Unlike in the usual theory where $`\delta t=n\tau 0`$, in the case of quantized space-time $`n`$ is a positive integer. So the second term of (1) reduces to

$$[E+ı\frac{E^2\tau }{\mathrm{}}]\psi _ı=[E(1+ı)]\psi _ı,\text{as}\tau =\mathrm{}/E$$

The fact that the real and imaginary parts are of the same order is infact borne out by experiment.   
From (1) we see that the Hamiltonian is not Hermitian that is it admits complex Eigen values indicative of decay, if the life times of the states are $`\tau `$.   
In general this would imply the exotic fact that if a state starts out as $`\psi _1`$ and decays, then there would be a non zero probability of seeing in addition the decay products of the state $`\psi _2`$. In the process it is possible that some symmetries which are preserved in the decay of $`\psi _1`$ or $`\psi _2`$ separately, are voilated.   
In this context we will now consider the Kaon puzzle. As is well known from the original work of Gellmann and Pais, the two state analysis above is applicable here. In the words of Penrose, ”the tiny fact of an almost completely hidden time-asymmetry seems genuinely to be present in the $`K^0`$-decay. It is hard to believe that nature is not, so to speak, trying to tell something through the results of this delicate and beautiful experiment.” On the other hand as Feynman put it, ”if there is any place where we have a chance to test the main principles of quantum mechanics in the purest way…..this is it.”   
What happens in this well known problem is, that given $`CP`$ invariance, a beam of $`K^0`$ masons can be considered to be in a two state system as above, one being the short lived component $`K^S`$ which decays into two pions and the other being the long lived state $`K^L`$ which decays into three pions. In this case $`E10^{10}\mathrm{}`$, so that $`\tau 10^{10}sec`$. After a lapse of time greater than the typical decay period, no two pion decays should be seen in a beam consisting initially of the $`K^0`$ particle. Otherwise there would be violation of $`CP`$ invariance and therefore also $`T`$ invariance. However exactly this violation was observed as early as 1964. This violation of time reversal has now been confirmed directly by experiments at Fermilab and CERN.   
We would like to point out that the Kaon puzzle has a natural explanation in the quantized time scenario discussed above.