Eli5: What is the “one electron universe” hypothesis and what is the criticism?
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The main idea is that all electrons are identical to each other, so we explain it by them all actually being one electron that goes back and forth throughout the universe.
In this model, antimatter is literally matter that is traveling backwards in time. When we see an electron+positron annihilation, from the electrons perspective it is going forward in time as an electron, then traveling backwards as a positron. When we see pair creation, that is a positron traveling backwards, then turning around and traveling forwards as an electron. Basically, matter works by the same rules as Tenet.
One major problem with this theory is that electron-positron is not the only particle interaction possible. You can also have electron+proton become a neutron, meaning you now have to say that protons actually contain positrons, which doesn’t really work with the quark model. You could also create a pair, then annihilate that same pair, which by the rules of the one electron universe would be a second electron.
The main idea is that all electrons are identical to each other, so we explain it by them all actually being one electron that goes back and forth throughout the universe.
In this model, antimatter is literally matter that is traveling backwards in time. When we see an electron+positron annihilation, from the electrons perspective it is going forward in time as an electron, then traveling backwards as a positron. When we see pair creation, that is a positron traveling backwards, then turning around and traveling forwards as an electron. Basically, matter works by the same rules as Tenet.
One major problem with this theory is that electron-positron is not the only particle interaction possible. You can also have electron+proton become a neutron, meaning you now have to say that protons actually contain positrons, which doesn’t really work with the quark model. You could also create a pair, then annihilate that same pair, which by the rules of the one electron universe would be a second electron.
The main idea is that all electrons are identical to each other, so we explain it by them all actually being one electron that goes back and forth throughout the universe.
In this model, antimatter is literally matter that is traveling backwards in time. When we see an electron+positron annihilation, from the electrons perspective it is going forward in time as an electron, then traveling backwards as a positron. When we see pair creation, that is a positron traveling backwards, then turning around and traveling forwards as an electron. Basically, matter works by the same rules as Tenet.
One major problem with this theory is that electron-positron is not the only particle interaction possible. You can also have electron+proton become a neutron, meaning you now have to say that protons actually contain positrons, which doesn’t really work with the quark model. You could also create a pair, then annihilate that same pair, which by the rules of the one electron universe would be a second electron.
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