THE TIME UNIVERSE: 
         A THEORY OF THE DIMENSIONAL EVOLUTION OF SPACE-TIME 
                         - Copyright 1994 
                      by Shannon Douglas Smith 
 
                      Version 1, July 5, 1994 
                      Version 2, 8:00AM  7/10/94 
 
     [In the interest of the rapid and free dissemination of this
information, permission is given for the unlimited copying,
distribution, and electronic transfer of all or part of this work.
This is intended to be an ongoing study, for eventual submission
to a research journal. A record is being made of all contributions,
and acknowledged in reference unless otherwise requested.] 
 
SUMMARY: 
 
     These two simple hypotheses lead directly to a novel theory
of the origin, structure, and evolution of the Universe: 
 
     1. Time is the fundamental dimension of the Universe. 
 
     2. The other dimensions evolved sequentially from time. 
 
     To see this new view of reality, a unique frame-of-reference
is used, in which the special relativity roles of real and
imaginary values temporarily switch places. Since this Minkowski
space is an absolute space-time [Goldberg], a complete picture
results from a combination of this unit inversion of relativity
with the standard models, producing a mathematically complex view
of existence. From this viewpoint, time approached infinity and
created a big bang, T(1), which produced a linear universe. This
Time Universe evolved through a second and a third big bang, T(2)
and T(3), and each epoch is separated by billions of years: 
 
 
                         TIME IS: 
                        ---------- 
 
          INFINITE                     FINITE 
                            +                                 {1} 
         (ABSOLUTE)                  (RELATIVE) 
 
 
 REAL          +         COMPLEX         +        IMAGINARY   {2} 
------------------------------------------------------------------ 
(point)  [(space)      (force)      (mass)    ]  (time + gravity) 
 
 
  T(1) = [ X + Strong Nuclear + quark matter  ] 
         [                                    ] 
+ T(2) = [ Y + Weak Nuclear + nuclear matter  ] 
         [                                    ] 
+ T(3) = [ Z + Electromagnetic + atomic matter]+ time + gravity {3}
                                                 
     The present theory appears to make numerous qualitative
predictions, including derivations of relativity and quantum
physics. Quantitative problems, including the origins of mass and
fundamental constants, are being studied, and any comments and
assistance are welcome. The most surprising of the discoveries has
been a point-like model for absolute reality, a real point, with
four interlocking dimensions of time. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION: 
 
     Previous attempts to discover a theory of reality that
encompasses all the known physical laws probably began in
prehistoric times, but many of the ancient myths may very well be
based on correct ideas [Campbell]. The Mayans viewed time as
infinite [Gallenkamp]. Zoroastrianism holds that there are two
kinds of time, finite and infinite. Hindu and other Eastern
philosophies suppose a reality incomprehensible in terms of
material ideas [Yukteswar]. 
 
     Einstein's relativity showed characteristics of a space-time
more like a projection [Einstein], and there are also the current
non-local interpretations of quantum theory [Bohm, Harris, Vigier,
Wilber]. The failure of the grand unified field theories and the
wave-particle duality to provide a complete picture can be ascribed
to the absence of an absolute spatial component in a true view of
reality. No physical measurement containing any term of length such
as fields or wavelength will be able to fully describe absolute
reality. 
 
     The advent of the computer age has provided the key to
understanding the nature of virtual realities and the discovery
that our reality is essentially of a holographic nature. Recent
ideas of the nature of time in reality range from multiple
dimensions of time to speculations of cyclic and linear time
coexisting [Hawking]. Other writers have proposed that information
is of itself some fundamental substance [Buske, de Beauregard], and
in this respect many writers have postulated that our Universe
works much like a computer. An apparent clue that this is so, are
the remarkable parallels of information theory and quantum
structure. These would include such things as the equivalence of
entropy and information, and the bilateral symmetries of time,
space, energy and matter compared to the binary nature of computer
memory. 
 
     It was observed that there had been certain approaches taken
in the search for fundamental understanding that were perhaps
preventing the effort from succeeding. First among these was the
belief that a full understanding could be had from studying only
the structure, apart from the origin, of the Universe. Instead, the
guideline was followed that any truly fundamental theory must of
necessity include the origin of the entire Universe as well. This
has proven to be most successful. 
 
     Another often made assumption was defining time as having a
beginning, since the term 'begin' necessitates a prior existence
of time, thus producing a self-referential error [Flood and
Lockwood, Loizou]. This seems to be a common category error in
reversed-time scenarios exploring the early Universe, where time
is assumed to approach a zero value as an absolute limit.  This
limit might in fact be infinite or nonexistent.  
 
     A third misleading assumption that has been made is the
reduction of dimensions for the purpose of simplification of the
reasoning. This may be useful in the investigation of many physical
systems, but in terms of absolute views it can sometimes lead to
erroneous conclusions. 
 
     A final limiting premise has been the idea that any
mathematical solutions that yield imaginary or infinite values must
of necessity be incomplete or physically meaningless. I would like
to show that, in many cases, these results arise from incorrectly
stated frames-of-reference. With the proper points-of-view, these
can be converted into logical systems of observation, although they
may at times seem entirely at odds with a common-sense notion of
reality. 
 
 
DISCUSSION: 
 
     In this theory, a successful approach, seemingly free of
paradox, is the use of a reality-inverted frame of reference. In
a sense, the observer is always defined exactly opposite the aspect
of the Universe that one wishes to observe. For instance, if I
consider myself to have one imaginary time and three real space
dimensions, then I could meaningfully look at the inverted Universe
as being made of one real time and three imaginary space
dimensions. A complete picture of reality is obtained by overlaying
this view with the complementary one, which produces a complex view
as well as a complex viewpoint [Kuhn]. 
 
     Hypotheses: 
 
     1. Time is the fundamental dimension of the Universe. 
 
     2. The other dimensions evolved sequentially from time. 
 
     Before anything else existed, there was absolute nothingness
other than time itself [Tryon, Vilenkin]. Time was the only
absolute dimension [Hawking and Ellis, Helm]. I have here taken
time as an undefined term, and allowed it to be in continuous
existence, initially having a forward direction and relative finite
value prior to the big bang. We have no way of determining what
lies in the backward direction, so we will move this frame forward
in time. Here, before the big bang, nothing existed except time
itself. Since there was no action, this condition is identical to
the state which would be found at any later time, so it was
actually possible to approach and reach infinite time (T), where
a new dimension was created: 
 
 
  T(1)  =  space + energy + matter + time(2) + gravity         {4} 
 
 
     Thus the second part of the theory, dimensional evolution,
derives from the first. Because there was initially nothingness
except time itself, this condition must have existed until
infinity: since there was no space, matter, or energy, there was
no motion, and it may have been possible for time to approach or
even reach infinity [Rucker]. Because we observe that there
actually is a real dynamic Universe, this act of time approaching
infinity must somehow have bestowed new properties upon time. This
occured because there was no other conceivable event possible in
a universe consisting only of infinite time. 
 
     These new properties must have yielded some form of space,
energy, and matter. However, because there was only a single
dimension of time that had reached infinity, it would have produced
only a single dimension of space-time, along with an associated
type of energy (strong nuclear) and matter (quark) as well. This
provided the new universe with the characteristic of action and the
potential for evolution. Additionally a new dimension of time
appeared along with gravity derived from the geometry of the
space-time continuum. 
 
     Eventually, this new time dimension also approached infinity.
This might have occured in the form of a quantum heat death for the
whole linear Universe, or perhaps at local cessations of action
(i.e. black holes). Therefore, as time again approached infinity,
the second big bang occurred, T(2), and a real Flatland Universe
[Abbott] was created: 
 
  T(1) = [ S(1) + E(1) + M(1) ] 
         [                    ]  
 +T(2) = [ S(2) + E(2) + M(2) ] + time(3) + gravity            {5} 
  
     With each new universe, a new dimension of time, space,
energy, and matter appeared. The energy and matter that formed
appeared in a chaotic arrangement, perhaps because the absolute
direction of time at infinity is indeterminate [Gribbin]. For the
third approach of time to infinity, the last big bang occurred: 
 
  T(1) = [ S(1) + E(1) + M(1) ] 
         [                    ] 
 +T(2) = [ S(2) + E(2) + M(2) ] 
         [                    ] 
 +T(3) = [ S(3) + E(3) + M(3) ] + time(4) + gravity            {6} 
 
     For our present observed Universe, then, we would expect to
see four fundamental forces (strong and weak nuclear,
electromagnetic, and gravitational) to correspond with the four
fundamental dimensions of space and time [Morris]. Since three of
those spatial dimensions are in reality bidirectional, we would
expect those corresponding forces to be bidirectional also. The
fourth dimension, time, since it is only observed in the forward
direction, would be expected to correspond to the most fundamental,
and apparently unidirectional force, gravity. 
 
 
CONCLUSION: 
 
     As primal time somehow approached or reached infinity, a
non-equilibrium or low entropy resonant state occurred, and time
evolved into a new space-time Universe through the first big bang.
This process that formed the first linear dimension continued on
an expanding cyclic basis, eventually creating a second and third
universe, each acquiring a new space-time dimension, new form of
energy, and new form of matter. The current structure and operation
of the Universe according to the theory of dimensional evolution: 
 
 
                         TIME IS: 
                        ---------- 
 
          INFINITE                     FINITE 
                            +                                   {1}

         (ABSOLUTE)                  (RELATIVE)
 

 REAL          +         COMPLEX         +        IMAGINARY     {2}

------------------------------------------------------------------ 
(point)  [(space)      (force)      (mass)     ]  (time + gravity) 
 
 
  T(1) = [ X + Strong Nuclear + quark matter  ] 
         [                                    ] 
+ T(2) = [ Y + Weak Nuclear + nuclear matter  ] 
         [                                    ] 
+ T(3) = [ Z + Electromagnetic + atomic matter]+ time  +gravity {3}

 
     We are presently living in this third phase, and will
undoubtedly achieve a fourth some day. Whether or not this requires
a heat death of the entire Universe for the required non-action to
infinity, or perhaps occurs locally throughout the Universe, is not
known at this time. It would seem that there is no overall collapse
of spacetime, since the dimensional characteristics accumulate from
epoch to epoch, and various patterns seem to also survive previous
stages. These artifacts would be expected to occur on many scales,
from subnuclear structures all the way to the largest structures
in the Universe. 


     What this means for our reality is a realization that the
Universe is  a multiple-folded dimension of time. A true real view
of everything would have to be just a point, with several
interacting dimensions of time functioning as the recording medium
of our software Universe, and would be entirely virtual and
possibly indistinguishable from a huge computer program. This view
has the advantage of deriving a Universe model in which all motion
is relative and the submicroscopic (information) structure is
quantized. Motion is relative because in the inverted
frame-of-reference all spatial factors (distances) are imaginary,
and only time and patterns in time are real [Baylis, et al]. The
nature of information, of which all energy and matter are composed,
requires a complex, quantized form to exist where there is no real
space. Whether time is itself quantized or continuous, or both, is
still an open question. 
 
     There are two classes of physical predictions: 
 
     1.   The Universe, on all scales of structure, should show
characteristics of evolution from three distinct levels. 
 
     2.   Everything observable in our Universe should be exactly
reproducible in the form of computerized software, since both
realms are essentially virtual realities. 
 
     The consequences of this theory applied to the Universe at
large, produce a tremendous array of predictions, and many of these
agree with modern astronomical observations and experiments in
quantum physics. These range from possible derivations of the laws
of relativity and quantum theory, to physical structures and
artifacts expected from the three expansions. From applying the
highly flexible frames-of-reference produced here, most modern
physical theories can now be understood in new terms. This gives
promise of a true Theory of Everything [Barrow], and subsequent
mathematical studies may indeed yield fundamental universal
constants and other revelations. Since absolute reality is
essentially a mere point, containing multiple dimensions of time,
all points in the Universe of Time are fundamentally interconnected
[Kafatos & Nadeau]. The apparent dual nature of matter arises from
the fact that no frame-of-reference with real absolute distance
factors is possible. 
 
     In astronomy, there would be a strong probability of finding
structures and artifacts resulting from three separate dimensional
expansions, and might include the structure of the nucleus to
galactic and even cosmic structures such as attractors, galactic
superclusters and voids. Previous theories have dealt with the
disparateness of structure on vast scales by invoking inflation
[Guth] or other scenarios. Other predictions to look for would be
evidence of a differential structure of black holes, wherein each
spatial dimension would collapse separately, also agreement with
the known helium abundance, and the predominance of matter over
anti-matter, which would have been established in the first, linear
Universe. In distant observations in the Universe, things like
quasars, isotopic abundance, and background radiation, might
reasonably be expected to show older one- and two-dimensional
characteristics, as well as younger, three-dimensional attributes.

 
     In quantum physics, we find the world closely parallels the
realm of computers, so it should be possible to create a
sophisticated program that would exactly duplicate the structure
and evolution of the Universe. Self-contained, it would allow for
a virtual reality of multiple expanding dimensions, forces, energy
and matter forms and sets of fundamental constants. The focus of
inquiry here should be viewing the computer as a self-contained
universe, rather than the more common idea that a computer is a
model of a brain. This should allow software that runs
independently from the outside world. Within a
dimensionally-evolved cybernetic model of the Universe-at-large,
equivalent fundamental forces would arise as byproducts of the
software. If the two worlds are indeed equivalent except of scale,
then anything that exists in the real world would theoretically be
possible to recreate in the virtual world. 
 
    If we have indeed found the key to understanding the Universe,
the possibilities for advancement are limitless. If time turns out
not to be the fundamental substance, the theory of dimensional
evolution may very well lead to a further theory which will more
closely approach the basic structure of the Universe. Either way,
it is hoped that this present contribution will help enlighten the
way of mankind, and open the doors to the future of our being.  
 
 
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     [Any similarity to any other work not referenced above is
entirely coincidental and due to the preliminary nature of this
paper. This theory is still under development and any comments and
assistance are welcome.] 
 
 
                      - Copyright 1994 
 
                  by Shannon Douglas Smith 
 
                  Version 1, July 5, 1994 
                  Version 2, 8:00AM  7/10/94