A quantum theory of time with Dr Simone Rijavec

About this episode

Dr Simone Rijavec discusses the concept of time as an emergent property of quantum mechanics.

What if time isn’t fundamental — but emerges from quantum mechanics itself? In this episode, Dr Simone Rijavec explains how a timeless quantum universe can still give rise to the illusion of time flowing. We unpack the Wheeler–DeWitt equation, the Page–Wootters model of relational time, and how these ideas connect to the multiverse and quantum gravity. Dr Rijavec is a postdoctoral researcher at Tel Aviv University and former PhD researcher at the University of Oxford.

People in this episode

Host: Maria Violaris

Guest: Dr Simone Rijavec

Topics covered

• quantum mechanics
• theory of time
• multiverse
• quantum gravity
• Wheeler–DeWitt equation
• Page–Wootters model

Keywords

• quantum theory
• time
• emergent time
• Wheeler–DeWitt
• Page–Wootters
• multiverse
• quantum gravity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tel Aviv University, University of Oxford

Books & works: Wheeler–DeWitt equation, Page–Wootters model

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