Multiple Time Dimensions, why not?

One of the biggest misconceptions deep-rooted in the human mind is the one-dimensionality of time. When physicists discover a theory that calls for multiple extra dimensions, such as the string theory, their first reaction is to assign those extra as spatial dimensions. They do so because they abhor the plurality of time ^a).

In order to give the reason for their invisibility, the physicists hypothesize that the extra dimensions are curled up into tiny loops ^b). However, as there are so many possibilities on how those extra-dimensions may be curled up, the outcomes of such string theory can reach billions.  It gives us a good reason to allow the Occam razor getting rid of this dire hypothesis without delay.

Internal symmetry

The second reason for the invisibility of the extra-dimensions is that they are time dimensions. A world with multiple space and time dimensions certainly complies with the principle of the relativity. We would have in our worlds no more bizarre things such as donut-like or Calabi-Yau tiny manifolds. As such, the world may preserve its internal symmetry in which changing [reversibly] the time dimension with the space dimension leaves the physical laws identical. 

It is evident that the physical laws' formulation in the world with many time dimensions would be exceedingly complicated. However, we may have a more natural way to solve the formulation by transforming all but one time dimensions into space dimensions. Having done that,  we get a simple system of higher-dimensional space with only one temporal dimension without altering the outcome of the result. 

To give an illustration, let us take the example of our space (or 3-brane as you wish ^c)) which we interpret as embedded in a 10-ambient spacetime. Under multiple time dimensions framework, such a system consists of three space dimensions and seven temporal dimensions. By transforming all temporal dimensions  (except the highest dimensional one) into space dimensions, we get a system having nine space dimensions and one temporal dimension  (a 9-brane embedded in the same 10-ambient spacetime). The physical laws' formulation in the latter system is much simpler than that in the first one ^d).

Under such a system we can also transform only some of the time dimensions into space dimensions and keep the remaining intact. As such, we would have various dimensional branes ranging from 3-brane to 9-brane embedding in the same 10-ambient spacetime without even changing the outcome of the result. 

These are the various dimensional branes which we encounter in the superstring theory. However, in most of the cases, each of those branes is assumed to have only one temporal dimension. As such, the physicists who deal with those branes have not any simple way to solve the respective formulation ^e). 

Even in dealing with the 9-brane, we may have no good solution. We may, in this case, extend the dimensions of the ambient spacetime higher and higher until we get the solution ^f). 

We may say that the higher the brane's dimensions are, the flatter it is.  This situation makes the mathematical formulation of the physical laws simpler.

Figure-1 diagrammatically shows how events which are not simultaneous at a particular time dimension t₁ become simultaneous at a higher time dimension t₂. It is as though space flatten out as the number of temporal dimensions becomes higher that makes the physical laws formulation more straightforward ^g).

Notes:

a)   Physicists wrongly regard the 4-spacetime as having three space dimensions and one temporal dimension which should be inherently multidimensional. The underlying of what we know as 4-spacetime is 4-dimensional time having a 3-dimensional cross-section (3-brane) in it.

b)   Kaluza and Klein first introduced Kaluzathe idea to unify the electromagnetic field with that of gravity by adding the curly fifth dimension to the classical four. Later on, the idea is extended for much higher dimensions in which the loop size of the extra dimensions is at the order of Planck size (10^-33 cm).

c)  We use the notations of space, hypersurface, hyper-interface or brane interchangeably.

d)   A system consisting of 3-space embedded in 10-dimensional ambient spacetime can be formulated as Hypercomplex function:

q = x₁ +x₂ + x₃ + ic₁t₁ + jc₂t₂ + kc₃t₃ +lc₄t₄ + mc₅t₅ + nc₆t₆ + oc₇t₇ 

under a coordinate patch consisting of three real x₁, x₂, x₃ and i, j, k, l, m, n, and o as independent imaginary numbers as the basis coordinate representing seven different time dimensions, c_i is the speed of light of the respective temporal dimensions t_i .

It is identical to Octonion :  

q = x + ic₁t₁ + jc₂t₂ + kc₃t₃ +lc₄t₄ + mc₅t₅ + nc₆t₆ + oc₇t₇ 

where x = x(x₁ , x₂ , x₃)

The physical laws prevailing in such a system would be extremely complicated. Under the internal symmetry, we can make it much simpler by changing the extra time dimensions into spatial ones transforming the system to get a system consisting of 9-space embedded in 10-dimensional ambient spacetime.

Its mathematical formulation then becomes a simple ordinary complex number:

q = x₁ +x₂ + x₃ + x₄ +x₅ + x₆ + x₇ + x₈ + x₉+ oc₇t₇

Denoting x = x (x₁, … x₉), we get a simple form:

q = x + oc₇t₇

e)   For example, if we have a system consisting of 6-brane embedded in 10-ambient spacetime (a system with 6 space dimensions and 4 time dimensions): 

q = x₁ +x₂ + x₃ + x₄ +x₅ + x₆ +lc₄t₄ + mc₅t₅ + nc₆t₆ + oc₇t₇ 

Usually we consider such a system having only one time dimension and disregard the other three: 

q = x₁ +x₂ + x₃ + x₄ +x₅ + x₆ +lc₄t₄ 

the solution of this formulation would be the only approximation of the former.

f)   The dimensions of macro-cosmos are assumed to be [quasi] infinite. It happened that we need only an ambient spacetime having 11 dimensions embedding a 10-brane  as in the case of supergravity theory.

g)   In such a diagram, simultaneous events would flatten their loci, an n-surface (hyperinterface, brane) embedded in (n+1) ambient spacetime; otherwise, the surface would not be flat. Figure-1B shows events which happen simultaneously at a certain time dimension t₂ while they do not happen simultaneously at a lower time dimension t₁ (Figure-1A).

Multiple Time Dimensions, why not?

Multidimensional Time and Hypercomplex Numbers

Long before physicists embarked on the study of higher-dimensional spacetimes, 19^th-century mathematicians had firmly established the geometry concept of multidimensional metric manifolds. Many of these concepts were straightforward generalizations of ideas on the properties of surfaces embedded in the three-dimensional Euclidean manifold.

To simplify things, the mathematicians have introduced a multidimensional surface-like concept called hypersurface for modeling multidimensional space embedded in a higher multidimensional ambient manifold. A flat m-hypersurface can be appropriately embedded in an (m+1) space, but matters become more complicated when one comes to consider curved hypersurfaces. A curved m-dimensional hypersurface requires an ambient space whose dimensions are at least equal to or greater than ½m (m+1) 1.

Accordingly, a 4-dimensional curved spacetime requires at least a 10-dimensional ambient space. The spacetime's point position and, hence, the curvature of the spacetime is completely defined through a collection of numbers associated with the coordinate system set up in such 10-ambient space which we are more familiar with as the metric tensor's independent components of such 4-spacetime.

So what is so startling about it is when we explore the micro realm we would be confronting with the same 10-dimensional ambient space. Alas, in the later development, such as in that of the superstring theory, physicists made a blunder as they wrongly assumed the curly nature of the extra dimensions of such ambient space,  which made them going nowhere.

The same fate happened to Big-Bang theory as physicists firmly exclude the existence of the universe's surrounding spaces. In doing so, physicists throw away the more significant part of the system, and this might be the reason why the theory incorporates only five percent of the total mass and energy that it actually should be.

Now the only option to cope with this impasse is jumping off the ship and abandon not only about the curly nature of the extra dimensions but also the one-dimensionality of time.

As the last article has deliberated,  those multiple temporal dimensions are the results of a series of successive symmetry breakings occur which had created different worlds, each of which had its respective temporal dimension (Figure-1).

Quaternion and Octonion

Now, how do we describe the structure and the geometry of such multiple temporal dimensions? To do this, we need to build a coordinate patch within such ambient space framework. To start with, let us deal with our 3-dimensional physical space embedded, as it should be, in a 6-ambient space. In such a case, we assign a coordinate patch consisting of three real space coordinates x₁, x₂, and x₃ and three imaginary time coordinates whose basis i, j and k.

If we denote x= x(x₁, x₂, x₃), then we can define any world point in such 3-physical space as:

q = x + ui + vj + wk,

where x, u, v and w are real numbers. This expression is found to be nothing but the quaternion; a generalized complex number discovered a long time ago by Hamilton who established the geometry and the algebraic structure of this quaternion in 1843.

If we express the time variables u, v and w proportionally to the speed of light c_i of the respective temporal dimensions t_i then we can write:

q = x+ ic₁t₁ + jc₂t₂ + kc₃t₃,

This quaternion describes a general vector within a 6-dimensional space expressed as a function of space and time coordinates. Quaternions, therefore, describe a 6-dimensional vector space over the real numbers, depicting the dynamical geometry of 3-space embedded in 6-ambient space.

Similarly, we can define the 4-spacetime whose ambient space is ten dimensional through a coordinate patch consisting of three real space coordinates and seven imaginary time coordinates.

Again if we assign a space coordinates as x= x(x₁, x₂, x₃) and i, j, k, l,m, n, and o denote independent imaginary numbers as the coordinate basis representing seven different time coordinates, then we can define any point located at the 3-space in such coordinate patch as:

q = x + ai + bj + ck + dl + em + fn + go

where x, a, b, c, d, e, f  and g are real numbers. Graves and Cayley had already discovered this expression, known as double quaternion or octonion, long time ago in 1845, although they did not know about the physical implication of it.

If we express the time variables a,b,c ... g proportionally to the speed of light c_i of the respective temporal dimensions t_i then we can write:

q=x+ ic₁t₁ + jc₂t₂ + kc₃t₃ +lc₄t₄ + mc₅t₅ + nc₆t₆ + oc₇t₇

Octonions form a 10-dimensional vector space over the real numbers, depicting a 3-physical space embedded in 10-dimensional ambient space.

In a later development, the original notions of quaternion and octonion are further modified and generalized through what so-called Clifford and Grassmann algebras applied to any higher dimensions framework which is found to have powerful implications in modern physics.
Many mathematicians and physicists wrongly perceived the quaternions and octonions as respectively describing 4-dimensional and 8-dimensional spacetime (having both one-dimensional time), which is inappropriate.

Penrose² regarded Hamilton's 22 year-devotion in his life in attempting to develop the quaternion calculus resulted in relative failure. On the contrary, we regard the Brougham Bridge's stone carved with the Hamilton fundamental equation would become a momentous milestone of the application of the hypercomplex calculus on the geometry of multidimensional time in both macroscopic and microscopic realms.

References:

1.  Sokolnikoff, L.S: "Tensor Analysis," Wiley Toppan, Second Edition, New York, 1964, p. 205.

2.   Penrose, R.: "The Road to Reality," Vintage Books, London, 2005, p. 201

Multidimensional Time and Hypercomplex Numbers

Symmetry and Symmetry Breaking

The asymmetry and its associated diversity that we observe today was the result of symmetry breakings which occurred in the early stage of the cosmos. In the beginning, ^a), the conditions were very different from those prevailing today, they were symmetric. The spatial dimensions as we know today did not yet exist; all dimensions were inherently temporal. However, as those temporal dimensions were yet undivided, there was no past, present ^b) and future.

At those conditions, the energy ^c) was unstable and tended to break into its positive and negative components. When it happened, the associated 4-spacetime (cosmos) ^d) was split into two parts creating an interface (3-hypersurface) in between the two. The dimensions across the interface transformed into spatial; leaving the dimensions outside it remained intact ^e).  Space, therefore, was born.

The two opposing energies ^f) perpetually generated sort of 4-lights (quantum fields) piercing through the interface (space) inducing secondary 3-(classical) fields which permeated and propagated across the interface (Figure-1A). As the quantum fields hit the interface, the strongest of them (Higgs fields) generated bright sparks which immediately disappeared as the opposite fields annihilated them (Figure-1B).

The fundamental particles as we know are in reality nothing but these quantum-sparks which perpetually appear and disappear at the interface. As those quantum fields hit the entire surface of the interface and penetrate it only a short distance (across through the thickness of the space), they seem to us (who live in such interface/3-space) as eternal, omnipresent and invisible objects that can create and annihilate quantum particles.

Minkowski ^{1, g)} brilliantly fused the space and time into its undifferentiated state and brought back the spacetime into its original condition. However, then, something wrong happened. Instead of bringing the spacetime back into its symmetrical condition, Einstein²assumed that such unification did not make the temporal and spatial dimensions equivalent. Einstein failed to recognize that the asymmetry as we see today was the result of the spacetime symmetry breaking. This blunder has hampered the progress of physics for more than one hundred years now.

On the discovery of the four-dimensional spacetime, Einstein³ commented: “The non-mathematician is seized by a mysterious shuddering when he hears of four-dimensional things, by a feeling not unlike that awakened by thoughts of the occult.” No wonder, even after one hundred years of experience dealing with such spacetime, physicists are still bewildered and fail to recognize that their chaotic spacetime model does not represent the post symmetry breaking we observe today.

Supersymmetry Breaking and Multidimensional Worlds

The symmetry breaking of the 4-spacetime as we previously described was only one of the long series of successive symmetry breakings. It was the last of the long chain of a successive splitting of a higher-dimensional spacetime into its lower-dimensional parts.

To make it clear, let us take the ambient 10-spacetime as a start. As this 10-spacetime broke its supersymmetry, a 9-hypersurface came into being along with its associated temporal dimension, t₇.  The latter, in turn, was split creating a smaller 8-hypersurface and its associated time, t₆ and so forth. This series of splits continued resulting in successive creations of the spacetimes in descending order of their dimensions and ended when the 3-space came into being along with its associated time t₁. A total of seven worlds ^h) have successively come into being with their own time, t_i, light and its respective speed, c_i, Planck constant, h_i, and “gravitational” constant, G_i.

We can depict those seven worlds in term of their relative dimensionality (Figure-2.) or pictorially described as concentric spheres whose dimensions are larger outwards, in which the innermost layer is the 3-space with all of its solar system, stars, galaxies and super-galaxies (Figure-3A).

It is worthy to note that this picture may clarify the exact physical meaning of the ancient cosmology. For hundreds of years, people had wrongly considered this configuration as the geocentric cosmology in which the earth was at the center of the universe (Figure-3B). Even now, modern physicists fail to properly grasp the multidimensionality of the seven heavens described in the ancient cosmology ⁴.

Notes:

a.    It is the relative beginning, not the beginning of time.

b. The notation of spacetime given for the cosmos at its original state is misleading as it gives the impression as it was asymmetrical from the beginning. It would be more appropriate if we use the notation world, cosmos or more technically [metric] manifold.

c.  Energy in its entirety (4-energy); to avoid misunderstanding it would be more appropriate if we use the ancient notation: eon or simply eon.  The energy as we know is merely its superficial property (3-energy).

d.  There was no space, as space and the present time are different aspects of the same thing.

e.  This symmetry breaking is analogous to the phenomenon which occurs in the separation of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water. In the body of the liquids, the cohesive forces are symmetric exerting equally in all directions. At the interface, however, such symmetry is broken because of unbalanced force exerting at the interface. As the system is in equilibrium,  the potential energy known as interfacial tension counter the net unbalance force. In terms of coordinate geometry, we may say that the interfacial tension differentiates the dimensions across the interface ("superficial" dimensions) from those of the original.

f.   The relativistic energy is composed of two opposite components as expressed in E² = m²c⁴ + p²c²

g.  Minkowski died one year only after the discovery, leaving confusion on his discovered object (spacetime)’s structure.

h.   The ancients called such worlds seven heavens.

References:

1.  Einstein, A. et al.: " The Principle of Relativity," Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1952, p. 75.

2.    Einstein, A.: " The Meaning of Relativity," Princeton University Press, Fifth Edition, New Jersey, 1954, p. 31

3.  Einstein, A.: "Relativity," Crown Publishers Inc., Fifteenth Edition, New York, 1952, p.55

4.  Hawking, S.: "A Brief History of Time," Bantam Books, London, 1989, p. 3.

Symmetry and Symmetry Breaking

Space Thickness, Supermanifold and Multidimensional Time

We used to conceptualize the geometry elements such as point, line, surface and space as having, respectively, zeroed, one, two and three dimensions. There is nothing wrong with that as far as we are dealing with abstract objects such as a corner point between a floor and two walls, meeting line between ceiling and wall, table's surface or hall's spaciousness.

However, we cannot apply such a concept for real bodies, whatever the size is. A grain of sand is not a zeroed-dimensional object, but a three-dimensional cubic-like body has small length, width, and thickness. A string is a three-dimensional long cylindrical object having a small section. Similarly, a piece of paper is a three-dimensional surface object whose thickness is very thin (Figure-1). Had their thickness been reduced to zero, those objects would all have gone into thin air.

Nature does not seem to give any exception to more fundamental entities such as space or any other higher-dimensional spacetimes. For their existence to have physical meaning, all those bodies should have thickness. It implies that space or spacetime, whatever its dimensions, should embed in an ambient spacetime of at least one dimension higher. So be the next body, it embeds in turn in another much higher manifold (Figure-2).  This kind of infinite regress makes us believe that nature is vast and infinite, not only its wide expanses but also its dimensions.

System and Surroundings

Now, the formulation of the laws of nature depends naturally on which system we choose. Suppose we want to formulate physical laws within a system of an m-dimensional spacetime embedded in  N-dimensional ambient manifold, we get, then, physical laws of a system having (N-m) extra dimensions. The directions of these dimensions determine those of the spacetime's thicknesses pointing outwards away from it.

We can describe the same physical laws in a much simpler system where the same N-ambient space embedding (N-1)-hypersurface, instead of an m-spacetime. The thickness of such a hypersurface has the same direction as that of the N^th dimension pointing outward away from it.

The laws of nature in the former system have very complex formulations and are difficult to resolve, as the system has too many extra-dimensions and, hence, fewer symmetries.  The laws of nature in such a system are relatively more straightforward as the system has only one extra-dimension and is highly symmetric.

We canThe laws of nature can be best described when the number of the dimensions of the ambient space embedding the system is large enough which "stretches" out the hypersurface to become completely flat and perfectly symmetric.

How do we determine the dimensions of the ambient space (N) vis-a-vis that of the embedded spacetime (m)? There is a minimum requirement for the number of the ambient space's dimensions for the spacetime can be "properly" embedded in the ambient space. The [non-flat] m-spacetime can be embedded in N-manifold only if at least N = ½ m(m+1) ¹⁾. The metric tensor of the m-spacetime dictates that the ambient space should have that amount of dimensions for all of its components can be properly defined.

Based on the above rule, the 2-surface requires  3-ambient space for which we do not doubt it. The non-flat 3-space, in our surprise,  requires 6-ambient spacetime, not to mention the 4-spacetime which requires 10-ambient manifold. It may indirectly explain why we have three generations of elementary particles and the 10-ambient manifold as revealed in the current theoretical physics.

Multidimensional Time

Now, what these dimensions are we talking about? As we have discussed previously, the spacetime is the physical manifestation of energy. In its original state, the spacetime was utterly symmetric. All of its dimensions are indistinguishable, and they are all "temporal." When the respective energy segregates into the positive and negative energies, the [temporal] spacetime's dimensions along the interface [separating those opposing energies] are transformed into spatial dimensions.

For the classical 4-spacetime, the energy segregation transforms three of the spacetime's temporal dimensions along the interface into spatial (Figure-3). In a 6-spacetime, the energy's segregation transforms the spacetime's five temporal dimensions along the interface into spatial dimensions. The same case also prevails for the 10-spacetime., where nine temporal dimensions along the interface become spatial.

The temporal dimensions  t1, t3 and t7 related to the 4-, 6- and 10-spacetimes, respectively, are different from each other. It is against the mainstream premise which tacitly asserts that there is only a time dimension in nature.

Based on the rule we have, a 4-spacetime requires a 10-ambient space for the physical laws to have solutions. However, as we have in this case 3 spatial dimensions and 7 [imaginary] extra-temporal dimensions, the physical laws we get would be very complicated. It is imperative, therefore, to have the same laws applied to a system consisting of a 10-ambient space embedding 9-hypersurface, which are simpler as we have only one imaginary temporal dimension on top of the nine real ones.

It is more or less what physicists have done in developing the string theory, except that the extra-dimensions were assumed being curled into tiny loops. Besides, the temporal dimension of the system was assumed to be the same as that of ordinary time. Such wrong assumptions have been put forward because mainstream physics holds the premise that time is one-dimensional as previously mentioned.

The relativity theory should rigorously hold the equivalence of space and time dimensions. The spatial and temporal dimensions should be transferable to each other depending on the system they become part. The extra dimensions are indetectable not because they curl into tiny loops but because they are temporal.

Supermanifold and Supersymmetry Generators

Physicists have many problems with their mathematical propositions as they used to conceptualize the spacetime as a standalone basis. Under such a concept they have taken the more significant part of the reality out of the system. Such as is the case of the Big Bang theory, which is entirely Platonic, a system without any geometrical thicknesses, surrounding, nor even 3-space.

A reader of the Scientific American²⁾ once asked: "Where is the universe expanding to?"  The authoritative answer from the expert was: "... the universe's expansion does not push it into new territory - rather the spacetime grid itself is expanding".  The issue has arisen again and again since the Big Bang theory was put forward, as only a few people were satisfied with such an explanation. The excellent answer should be that the universe is expanding to at least the 10-dimensional ambient space, and not into nothing.

To make their model closer to the reality, some physicists artificially introduced what they called supersymmetry generators, replacing the thicknesses which they have "forgotten" to incorporate in their mathematical model. They call this manifold having thicknesses "Supermanifold"³⁾. 

The physicists should put forward the problems of embedding at the forefront of physical researches and develop a more holistic model instead of a piecemeal one.

References:

1.   Sokolnikoff, L.S.: "Tensor Analysis," Wiley Toppan, Second Edition, New York, 1964, p. 205

2.  Kashlinsky, A.: "Where is the Universe Expanding to?", Scientific American, (Ask the Experts Forum), May 2007, p. 104

3.    Penrose R.: "The Road to Reality," Vintage Books, London, 2005, p. 879.

Space Thickness, Supermanifold and Multidimensional Time