PIRSA:08100038

The Clock Ambiguity and the Emergence of Physical Laws

Albrecht, A. (2008). The Clock Ambiguity and the Emergence of Physical Laws. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/08100038

Albrecht, Andreas. The Clock Ambiguity and the Emergence of Physical Laws. Perimeter Institute, Oct. 22, 2008, https://pirsa.org/08100038 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:08100038,
            doi = {10.48660/08100038},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/08100038},
            author = {Albrecht, Andreas},
            keywords = {Cosmology},
            language = {en},
            title = {The Clock Ambiguity and the Emergence of Physical Laws},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2008},
            month = {oct},
            note = {PIRSA:08100038 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Andreas Albrecht

University of California, Davis

Talk number
PIRSA:08100038
Collection
Talk Type
Subject
Abstract
The “clock ambiguity” is a general feature of standard formulations of quantum gravity, as well as a much wider class of theoretical frameworks. The clock ambiguity completely undermines any attempt at uniquely specifying laws of physics at the fundamental level. In this talk I explain in simple terms how the clock ambiguity arises. I then present a number of concrete results which suggest that a statistical approach to physical laws could allow sharp predictions to emerge despite the clock ambiguity. Along the way, I get to ask some interesting questions about what we expect of fundamental laws of physics, and give some surprising answers.