A theory of time based on wavefunction collapse

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel theory where moments of time emerge from wavefunction collapse, linking the passage of time to gauge symmetry failure and demonstrating unitarity in a cosmological model.

Contribution

It introduces a new perspective on time as arising from wavefunction collapse and gauge symmetry failure, with a demonstration of unitarity in a cosmological context.

Findings

Time moments emerge from gauge symmetry failure.

Wavefunction collapse drives the passage of time.

Unitarity is maintained in the proposed model.

Abstract

We propose that moments of time arise through the failed emergence of the temporal diffeomorphism as gauge symmetry, and that the passage of time is a continual process of an instantaneous state collapsing toward a gauge-invariant state. Unitarity and directedness of the resulting time evolution are demonstrated for a minisuperspace model of cosmology.