What if time isn't just something we move through but a physical substance flowing like a river? That's the radical premise behind Lamont Williams' Temporal Energy Theory (TET), as discussed in his book The Greatest Source of Energy: A New Theory of Time. TET attempts to resolve one of physics' biggest puzzles: the conflict between how General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics (QM) treat time. This blog unpacks the paradox, explores TET's core ideas, and considers its place in the search for a unified theory of physics.
The Paradox of Time
The "problem of time" arises from how differently GR and QM describe it:
- General Relativity (GR): Einstein's GR treats time as part of spacetime, a flexible fabric that bends creating the gravitational effect. Time is relative; it runs slower near massive objects (e.g., black holes), as confirmed by GPS satellite data.
- Quantum Mechanics (QM): In contrast, QM sees time as a regularly running constant backdrop for all. Quantum events unfold against this universal timeline, with time appearing in equations (like Schrödinger's) but not subject to uncertainty.
These conflicting views create problems when trying to unify GR and QM, especially in extreme environments like the Big Bang or black holes. Quantum gravity efforts, such as the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, even suggest a timeless universe—a puzzling result at odds with everyday experience.
What Is Temporal Energy Theory?
Lamont Williams, in his book The Greatest Source of Energy: A New Theory of Time, introduces Temporal Energy Theory. TET redefines time as a physical substance made of "temporal particles" with three types:
- t⁺ ("future")
- t⁰ ("present")
- t⁻ ("past")
These particles cycle through space and matter via a process called temporal respiration, moving faster than light.
Key Concepts of TET
Solving the Paradox
TET suggests that the paradox exists because GR and QM focus on opposite temporal directions:
- GR: Focuses on forward flow (t⁺ to t⁻)—gravity as "future" time particles converting to "past."
- QM: Emphasizes the backward flow (t⁻ to t⁺)—quantum events as energy "borrowed" from the vacuum.
These cancel each other mathematically, leading to the "timeless" universe in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. TET reframes this not as a “bug” but as a clue: GR and QM may be two sides of the same temporal process.
Examples:
- Gravity: Instead of curved spacetime, gravity is due to t⁺ particles traveling toward matter .
- Entanglement: Particles share temporal links, bypassing the restriction on faster-than-light signaling.
- Big Bang: Marks the split of space into t⁺-rich (interior) and t⁻-rich (exterior) regions, powering cosmic expansion. We perceive the exterior region through white holes in GR and through the "borrowing of energy" in QM (energy borrowed as t⁺ and returned as t⁻.)
Broader Implications
By treating time as a physical entity, TET opens new possibilities. It could connect physical time with psychological and thermodynamic time, hinting at links between consciousness and particle behavior. If proven, it might simplify quantum phenomena and redefine our understanding of the universe.
The paradox of time, how GR and QM clash over their natures, remains a major challenge in physics. Lamont Williams' Temporal Energy Theory offers an imaginative attempt to bridge that gap by redefining time as the flow and conversion of physical particles. While far from mainstream acceptance, it highlights the creative thinking that drives scientific progress. Whether TET is a stepping stone or a side path, it reminds us that solving the universe's biggest mysteries sometimes requires thinking far outside the box.
Discover how TET could redefine time, energy, and the future of physics in Lamont Williams' The Greatest Source of Energy: A New Theory of Time.
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