Heidelberg 2022 – scientific programme

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MP: Fachverband Theoretische und Mathematische Grundlagen der Physik

MP 11: Thermodynamics and fundamental aspects of field theory

MP 11.3: Talk

Thursday, March 24, 2022, 17:15–17:35, MP-H6

The fundamental role of the proper time parameter in general relativity and in quantum mechanics — •René Friedrich — Strasbourg

Special relativity provides time with a precise physical concept, splitting the absolute Newtonian time into two different time concepts, proper time and coordinate time: In a first step, time is generated by rest energy, in the form of the proper time parameter of a worldline of a particle, and in a second step, the worldline is observed, by measuring the corresponding coordinate time parameter of the observer. Conversely, from the observed coordinate time we may retrieve by calculation the underlying proper time of the worldline. Proper time is time before time dilation, and coordinate time is time after time dilation. This is why for fundamental, unresolved questions about time we should not refer to the coordinate time parameter of spacetime but to the more fundamental parameter of proper time.