Do Photons Perceive a Two-Dimensional Universe?

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In summary, photons only exist in 2 dimensions and they don't experience time. Matter can only exist in 2 dimensions because time doesn't exist for photons.
  • #1
nuby
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Since a photon moves at c has 0 mass, and doesn't "experience" time. Would it "see" everything in 2 dimensions (a frame) .. and could you say it only exists in 2 dimensions?

Could matter exist without time?
 
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  • #2
Why 2 dimensions? If "time" does not exist for a photon, wouldn't the three space dimensions still exist?
 
  • #3
HallsofIvy said:
Why 2 dimensions? If "time" does not exist for a photon, wouldn't the three space dimensions still exist?

I think the photon would only "see" the frame of time (or 2D space) of when it was created, like a painting, and 3D space or mass wouldn't exist.
 
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  • #4
nuby said:
Since a photon moves at c has 0 mass, and doesn't "experience" time. Would it "see" everything in 2 dimensions (a frame) .. and could you say it only exists in 2 dimensions?

Could matter exist without time?
Don't forget the photon gets dizzy as well since it has spin. :smile:

Seriously, the question and the answer is useless since photons do not interact with each other, they can only be absorbed and emitted.
 
  • #5
MeJennifer said:
Don't forget the photon gets dizzy as well since it has spin. :smile:

Seriously, the question and the answer is useless since photons do not interact with each other, they can only be absorbed and emitted.

(... except when pairs of photons meet with sufficiently large center-of-mass energy to cause electron/positron pair production, which may not be relevant to this thread, but I'm mentioning it in case anyone comes across this statement out of context).
 
  • #6
Dimensions
It's believed light, electromagnetic radiation, exists in three spatial dimensions like the strong and weak forces; gravity may be a force which "leaks" (hence weakens) through higher dimensions, if such higher dimensions exist. It seems to "like" x,y,z directions equally moving in all three at "c".


Could matter exist without time?

As far as is known, No.

As far as is understood, time permits the universe to evolve. The initial energy in the universe transforms with time to the four fundamental forces we observe today, to enable "change" such as mass to emerge. particles, planets,stars, galaxies,etc. Via inflationary theory, time apparently existed before space for maybe 10^-33 seconds during the inflationary phase of the universe when things expanded faster than light. Without time the universe could not evolve. Time permits change.

An aspect of your question is whether time is fundamental or an emergent phenomena "created" at or near the origin of the universe. I don't believe that issue has been settled. Some theories envision time as having existed before our universe, such as "big bounce" and "bubble" theories, but big bang theories appear to see time as starting or maybe restarting in this incarnation.
 
  • #8
Naty1 said:
Could matter exist without time?

As far as is known, No. .

If mass can't exist without time, could it be the Higgs boson interacts with time (frames) to create 3 dimensional objects or space? Or could the Higgs boson be related to time some other way?
 
  • #9
Another far-out question/thought, since an electromagnetic wave consists of two forces (electric / magnetic), could the three dimensions of 3D space and matter be.. electric fields (x) magnetic fields (y), and time (z)?
 

FAQ: Do Photons Perceive a Two-Dimensional Universe?

How does time affect mass?

Time does not directly affect mass. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while time is a measurement of the duration of events. However, mass can affect time through the theory of relativity, where time is relative to the mass and speed of an object.

Can mass be converted into time?

No, mass cannot be converted into time. Time and mass are two different concepts and cannot be directly converted into one another. However, as mentioned before, the theory of relativity suggests that mass can affect time through its gravitational pull.

Does time dilation affect mass?

Yes, time dilation can affect mass. According to the theory of relativity, as an object's speed increases, its mass also increases. This is known as relativistic mass and is a result of the object's increased energy.

How does the concept of mass-energy equivalence relate to time?

The concept of mass-energy equivalence, represented by the famous equation E=mc^2, shows that mass and energy are interchangeable. This means that time can be affected by changes in mass, as seen in the theory of relativity where mass can affect the speed of time.

Can time and mass be manipulated?

Yes, time and mass can be manipulated in certain situations. For example, through the use of high speeds or strong gravitational forces, time can be dilated or compressed. Mass can also be manipulated through nuclear reactions, where matter is converted into energy and vice versa.

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