The weatherman who fell down a black hole: What he can teach us about reality

摘要

A previous mathematical proof that the universe is not reversible in time is supplemented with a physical interpretation analogous to quantum mechanics. This is aided by three postulates from Susskind, which help to confirm that the universe consists of embedded, overlapping, nonisomorphic realities (frame-dependent experiences). These realities continually measure the universe, thereby precluding a superimposed and reversible universe. Susskind's postulates can be generalized to eliminate the twin paradox of special relativity although they are intended to conserve information despite the evaporation of black holes caused by Hawking radiation. All this is investigated by considering a weatherman who falls into a black hole. Vacuum friction and his kinetic energy allow the weatherman to report on the stretched horizon in an external reality, whereas, in his own reality, the stretched horizon vanishes in accordance with the equivalence principle of general relativity. In both realities, the weatherman's signal is lost when he reaches the horizon, making this an absolute experience. Absolute experiences distinguish the present theory from the theory of multiple universes. Because the equivalence principle is crucial for the above conclusions, it is fortunate that real observations favor the equivalence principle over the competing concept of Unruh radiation.