The Non-Relativistic Time Of Quantum Theory Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Penrose (2004: 579):

A noteworthy feature of standard quantum theory is that, for a system of many particles, there is only one time coordinate, whereas each of the independent particles involved in the quantum system has its own independent set of position coordinates. This is a curious feature of non-relativistic quantum mechanics if we like to think of it as some kind of limiting approximation to a ‘more complete’ relativistic theory. For, in a relativistic scheme, the way that we treat space is essentially the way that we should also treat time. Since each particle has its own space coordinates, it should also have its own time coordinate. But this is not how ordinary quantum mechanics works. There is only one time for all the particles.

Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, time is the dimension of the unfolding of processes. In this scenario, the single process that unfolds is the instantiation of potential, so accordingly, all particles that mediate that single process share the same time co-ordinate.