Quantum Foundations Podcast A quantum theory of time with Dr Simone Rijavec
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Nov 19, 2025 Dr. Simone Rijavec, a postdoctoral researcher at Tel Aviv University and former Oxford scholar, dives into the mind-bending concept that time may not be fundamental but rather an emergence from quantum mechanics. She discusses the intriguing Wheeler–DeWitt equation and the Page–Wootters model of relational time, explaining how our perception of time may come from superpositions of quantum states. Additionally, she explores the idea of distinct experiences existing as real branches in a multiverse and emphasizes the operational nature of time through quantum clocks.
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Stationary Universe From Wheeler–DeWitt
- The Wheeler–DeWitt equation implies a stationary quantum universe with no external evolution parameter.
- The key puzzle is explaining how we experience change if the universe as a whole is stationary.
Relational Time Via Page–Wootters
- The Page–Wootters approach recovers dynamics relationally by conditioning subsystems on a clock subsystem.
- You regain standard quantum evolution by reading other systems relative to the clock's state.
Maria Measures A Three‑Outcome Superposition
- Simone uses a measurement example where Maria starts ready and the measured box is in superposition of three outcomes.
- Unitary evolution yields a superposition of Maria correlated with each outcome, illustrating branching.