The Twin Paradox in Quantum Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum vacuum fluctuations influence time measurement at microscopic scales, revealing that time depends on both the observer's path and the interaction with vacuum fluctuations, especially in a twin paradox setup.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum clock model based on vacuum decay probability and analyzes its implications for the twin paradox in quantum field theory.

Findings

Time measurement depends on vacuum fluctuations at small scales.

The interaction with vacuum fluctuations affects clock readings.

Time is observer-dependent and influenced by microscopic clock details.

Abstract

Vacuum fluctuations in quantum field theory impose fundamental limitations on our ability to measure time in short scales. To investigate the impact of universal quantum field theory effects on observer-dependent time measurements, we introduce a clock model based on the vacuum decay probability of a finite-sized quantum system. Using this model, we study a microscopic twin paradox scenario and find that, in the smallest scales, time is not only dependent on the trajectory connecting two events, but also on how vacuum fluctuations interact with the microscopic details of the clocks.