Looking at Time from a Physics Perspective

The subject of time continues to be a subject of extensive research in the development of new theories of physics. This new volume is addressed to students who are starting a graduate program in physics or electrical engineering interested in complementing their studies of relativity theory and quantum physics, applying the knowledge they have acquired about these themes to the analysis of situations where the issue of time measurement is relevant. This is the case, for example, of clock synchronization, transit times of optical signals through dielectric and absorbing media, lifetimes of excited atomic states, among others. These topics, in addition to being of great importance to theoretical physicists, are the basis of many technological developments. For example, global positional systems (GPS) are based on the predictions of relativity theory about time and the effect of gravity over time measurement. Divided into six chapters, the volume discusses how the concept of time is present in the main fields of physics, such as classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics and theory of relativity. Illustrative examples and case studies are included in each chapter. The volume includes an analysis of themes related to time such as causality and the arrows of time, spooky action at distance and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox, quantum mechanics and entangled states, apparent superluminal velocity, and time reversal. This book, Looking at Time from a Physics Perspective, will contribute to the understanding of concepts learned in courses on classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics and relativity, reviewing the implications of the time variable for the description of the different physical phenomena at the microscopic and macroscopic level.

Patricio Robles has a long professional and academic career as a physics teacher and researcher, as well as an electrical engineer. Despite being retired, he continues developing research in theoretical physics and teaching courses on electrical projects at Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile. He also works as a consulting engineer in electrical studies related to the analysis of faults in electrical systems and protection schemes. He has published his research concerned with topics about electromagnetic fields and quantum physics in international journals and book chapters. His more recent publications are related to bounded pairs of electrons, massless Dirac fermions, and photon propagation through dispersive media. During last five years, he has collaborated with international journals of physics and electrical engineering as a referee, reviewing articles submitted for publication in journals such as the European Journal of Physics and Nanotechnology Journal.

1. Time in Classical Mechanics 2. About Time in Electromagnetic Theory 3. Time in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanic 4. Time in Special Relativity Theory 5. Time in General Relativity Theory 6. Glance to Some Recent Theories about Time in Physics