Ruth E. Kastner University of Maryland, College Park October 7, 2023 ABSTRACT. This essay offers a meta-level analysis in the sociology and history of physics in the context of the "Arrow of Time" or so-called "Two Times" problem. In effect, it argues that the two topics are intertwined, and it is only by coming to … Continue reading The Arrow of Time is Alive and Well but Forbidden Under the Received View of Physics →

Yes, Hugh Everett had a novel idea. And yes, it makes for a great science fiction story. But does it really do what it claims to do? In this paper, excerpted from an edited volume with colleagues Jasmina Jeknic-Dugic and George Jaroskiewicz, I provide some reasons for concern. The Illusory Appeal of Decoherence in the … Continue reading It’s time to consider the serious flaws in the Everettian (“Many Worlds”) Interpretation →

Landauer's Principle is the claim that any computational process that "merges two computational paths" comes with an entropy cost of (at least) k ln 2. This sort of merging is also termed "erasure of information" in the literature. Thus, Landauer's Principle asserts that there is a minimal cost paid in the creation of thermodynamic entropy … Continue reading Landauer’s Principle: Not quite what Landauer had in mind. →

This is an invited contribution to a special issue of InterdisciplinaryScience Reviews honoring Sir Roger Penrose. In it, I argue that standard quantum theory faces serious anomalies that can only be rectified by including real, physical reduction currently lacking in its traditionally accepted/entrenched formulation. qm-needs-real-reduction_penrose-volDownload

In this publication, I propose a way to understand the "exchange" of indices in collective states of two or more identical quanta, and I also question certain assumptions of the standard debate on this topic. Questions/comments welcome. I can also be contacted through my author site: ruthekastner.org quantum-haecceity-kastner-pta-3.19.23_accepted_versionDownload

In a previous post, I presented a Comment for an online forum on a paper by Gruber,  Block and Montemayor, 2022 that discusses the alleged conflict between "physical time" and the human experience of time. Since that time, an additional target paper was added for the discussion, and I've made my comment shorter and more concise. … Continue reading Updated Comment: “Physical Time as Human Time” →

In the relativistic transactional picture (RTI), spacetime is an emergent construct. It emerges from specific interactions at the quantum level (i.e., transactions). This process creates a metrical structure; thus, RTI allows the harmonious integration of quantum theory and general relativity, two theoretical domains generally thought to be in conflict. I've just completed a collaboration with … Continue reading Transactions Complete Entropic Gravity →

I was invited by the above authors to comment on their paper, recently published in Frontiers in Psychology (doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.718505). The authors deal with an issue generally viewed as problematic: reconciling the human experience of time with physical theories addressing time. The idea is that several of us will participate in a published panel discussion … Continue reading Comment on “Physical Time Within Human Time” (Gruber,  Block and Montemayor, 2022) →

Many researchers continue to discuss "retrocausal" approaches to quantum theory that involve a basic assumption that one can combine forward-directed causal flow and backward-directed causal flow "in spacetime." (My own proposal, RTI, has basic time symmetry but that is broken at the spacetime level, so it does not fall into this category.) In this post, … Continue reading Forward Causation + Backward Causation = Zero Causation →

I've been enjoying my stay this semester at University of Pittsburgh's Center for Philosophy of Science. Here's the video of my March 15 talk: https://youtu.be/YNIdSu-HqFo?t=173