I loved Lane's class. He challenged me. he made me think.
What does Stephen Hawking mean by "imaginary" time versus "real" time? How is the concept of imaginary time useful in understanding the implications of Einstein's theory of relativity? In addition explain the "brane" theory and how it relates to a geometric understanding of space-time.
my response:
Imaginary time is on a Y axis, real time is on an X axis. Imaginary numbers can be seen as right angles to ordinary real numbers. Which we would call real and imaginary time. Einstein's theory of classical general relativity was combined with real time and three dimensions of space into a four dimensional space time. The real time direction was distinguished from the three spatial directions. Which means that time moved from past to future. It was able to increase, decrease which meant that one could reverse direction in space, but not in time. But, because imaginary time is at a right angle to real time, its like a type of fourth spatial direction. Which means it has a better chance than ordinary- real time. Which only has a beginning or an end, or continues itself in circles. Which means that imaginary time in a sense has a shape.
Brane Theory is an object that rest on another object with one or more dimensions. The analogy goes something of the skin on top of your soup, or even a scab on your knee. It, being the two dimensional skin is resting on a three dimensional volume therefore a brane. I believe that the brane theory says we are a three dimensional world resting on a four dimensional plane. The plane has to be time. Therefore, there are six more dimensions. Which can be sub- divided into another dimension. I don’t know how else to explain this theory.
uhm, thats it.
my response:
Imaginary time is on a Y axis, real time is on an X axis. Imaginary numbers can be seen as right angles to ordinary real numbers. Which we would call real and imaginary time. Einstein's theory of classical general relativity was combined with real time and three dimensions of space into a four dimensional space time. The real time direction was distinguished from the three spatial directions. Which means that time moved from past to future. It was able to increase, decrease which meant that one could reverse direction in space, but not in time. But, because imaginary time is at a right angle to real time, its like a type of fourth spatial direction. Which means it has a better chance than ordinary- real time. Which only has a beginning or an end, or continues itself in circles. Which means that imaginary time in a sense has a shape.
Brane Theory is an object that rest on another object with one or more dimensions. The analogy goes something of the skin on top of your soup, or even a scab on your knee. It, being the two dimensional skin is resting on a three dimensional volume therefore a brane. I believe that the brane theory says we are a three dimensional world resting on a four dimensional plane. The plane has to be time. Therefore, there are six more dimensions. Which can be sub- divided into another dimension. I don’t know how else to explain this theory.
uhm, thats it.