Unification Might Be Achievable by a Hypothesis of Instantaneous Time-Jumps during Photon and Graviton Interactions (A Brief Note)

Abstract

Quantum theory according to the Copenhagen interpretation holds that, when a quantum interaction is observed ( i.e. , “measured”), the observer’s measuring devices temporarily become a part of the quantum system. Relativity theory holds that the event clock of the absorbed or emitted photon or graviton is frozen in time relative to all clocks outside the observed system. If we harmonize both theories, this would appear to imply that time continuity must be interrupted at each instant of observed photon or graviton interaction with matter. It is as if a segment of space-time is clipped out during each such observed interaction. If so, we must dispense with the notion of an absolutely smooth and continuous space-time and replace it with an observation-dependent, discontinuous, relativistic/quantum space-time. Mathematical physicists should be able to model this hypothesis (call it a “time-jump hypothesis”) and its inherent discontinuous space-time in their further efforts at unification.