Wormhole Time Machines and Multiple Histories

TL;DR

This paper develops a physically plausible model of wormhole-based time travel, demonstrating that multiple histories are necessary to resolve certain paradoxes that cannot be addressed by self-consistency alone.

Contribution

It introduces a new, realistic model of a wormhole time machine in 3+1 dimensions and proves that multiple histories are essential for resolving specific paradoxes.

Findings

Model confirms paradoxes unresolved by Novikov's conjecture

Supports the necessity of multiple histories for consistent time travel

Provides open-source simulation for further exploration

Abstract

In a previous paper, we showed that a class of time travel paradoxes which cannot be resolved using Novikov's self-consistency conjecture can be resolved by assuming the existence of multiple histories or parallel timelines. However, our proof was obtained using a simplistic toy model, which was formulated using contrived laws of physics. In the present paper we define and analyze a new model of time travel paradoxes, which is more compatible with known physics. This model consists of a traversable Morris-Thorne wormhole time machine in 3+1 spacetime dimensions. We define the spacetime topology and geometry of the model, calculate the geodesics of objects passing through the time machine, and prove that this model inevitably leads to paradoxes which cannot be resolved using Novikov's conjecture, but can be resolved using multiple histories. An open-source simulation of our new model using Mathematica is available for download on GitHub. We also provide additional arguments against the Novikov self-consistency conjecture by considering two new paradoxes, the switch paradox and the password paradox, for which assuming self-consistency inevitably leads to counter-intuitive consequences. Our new results provide more substantial support to our claim that if time travel is possible, then multiple histories or parallel timelines must also be possible.