Fluid Clocks: Emergence of quantum theory from sub-quantum dynamics

Abstract

It is argued that any operational measure of time is inseparably bound to the presence of a periodic process in some medium. Since, as first formulated by Einstein's (1905) equation for the energy, all "particles" (neutrons, electrons, photons, etc.) are each characterized by a specific "frequency", the inverse of this frequency is the smallest operational unit of time available in principle. With a corresponding "coarse graining" of an otherwise practically idealized, continuous time (i.e., with the latter then holding on time scales much larger than the coarse grained one), one can show that the basic features of quantum theory can be derived from a minimal set of assumptions. In particular, it is shown here how the Schroedinger equation can be derived from classical physics modified only by said assumption of a coarse grained time and the presence of so-called "zero-point fluctuations". The latter relate to the dynamics of a "fluid" vacuum, which is today known to be a far cry from just being "empty space". Consequently, it is shown that time and matter, when discussed from a physical point of view, must by necessity be considered in one common framework.