Space-time from collapse of the wave-function

TL;DR

This paper proposes that space-time emerges from wave-function collapse in quantum mechanics, introducing an operator Minkowski space-time and relativistic spontaneous localisation, with potential observable signatures in interference experiments at attosecond scales.

Contribution

It introduces a formulation of quantum theory without classical time using operator Minkowski space-time and suggests relativistic spontaneous localisation as the mechanism for emergent space-time.

Findings

Interference in time may be observable at attosecond scales

Predicted disappearance of interference for time separations over 100 attoseconds

Proposes a new approach linking wave-function collapse to space-time emergence

Abstract

We propose that space-time results from collapse of the wave function of macroscopic objects, in quantum dynamics. We first argue that there ought to exist a formulation of quantum theory which does not refer to classical time. We then propose such a formulation by invoking an operator Minkowski space-time on the Hilbert space. We suggest relativistic spontaneous localisation as the mechanism for recovering classical space-time from the underlying theory. Quantum interference in time could be one possible signature for operator time, and in fact may have been already observed in the laboratory, on attosecond time scales. A possible prediction of our work seems to be that interference in time will not be seen for `time slit' separations significantly larger than 100 attosecond, if the ideas of operator time and relativistic spontaneous localisation are correct.