The Quantum Labyrinth : How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality

The story of the unlikely friendship between the two physicists who fundamentally recast the notion of time and history In 1939, Richard Feynman, a brilliant graduate of MIT, arrived in John Wheeler's Princeton office to report for duty as his teaching assistant. A lifelong friendship and enormously productive collaboration was born, despite sharp differences in personality. The soft-spoken Wheeler, though conservative in appearance, was a raging nonconformist full of wild ideas about the universe. The boisterous Feynman was a cautious physicist who believed only what could be tested. Yet they were complementary spirits. Their collaboration led to a complete rethinking of the nature of time and reality. It enabled Feynman to show how quantum reality is a combination of alternative, contradictory possibilities, and inspired Wheeler to develop his landmark concept of wormholes, portals to the future and past. Together, Feynman and Wheeler made sure that quantum physics would never be the same again. "In Fall 1939, Richard Feynman, a brash and brilliant recent graduate of MIT, arrived in John Wheeler's Princeton office to report for duty as his teaching assistant. The prim and proper Wheeler timed their interaction with a watch placed on the table. Feynman caught on, and for the next meeting brought his own cheap watch, set it on the table next to Wheeler's, and also began timing the chat. The two had a hearty laugh and a lifelong friendship was born. At first glance, they would seem an unlikely pair. Feynman was rough on the exterior, spoke in a working class Queens accent, and loved playing bongo drums, picking up hitchhikers, and exploring out-of-the way places. Wheeler was a family man, spoke softly and politely, dressed in suits, and had the manners of a minister. Yet intellectually, their roles were reversed. Wheeler was a raging nonconformist, full of wild ideas about space, time, and the universe. Feynman was very cautious in his research, wanting to prove and confirm everything himself. Yet when Feynman saw merit in one of Wheeler's crazy ideas and found that it matched experimental data, their joint efforts paid off phenomenally. The brilliance and originality of each physicist stimulated the other's imagination, leading to a rethinking of the nature of time and reality that proved essential for late-20th century breakthroughs in particle physics. Instead of a linear flow, Feynman's concept of sum over histories showed how the path a particle takes is a blend of all possible options that a particle could follow. Wheeler's attempts to remake particle physics from the ground up, spurred the now landmark idea of wormholes, and influenced his student Hugh Everett's conception of the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics. The two thinkers pioneered the use of doodles and diagrams in explaining quantum interactions, giving birth to the now essential Feynman diagrams that show possible backward- and forward-in-time paths for particles. And this is only the tip of the iceberg."--Publisher In Fall 1939, Richard Feynman, A Brash And Brilliant Recent Graduate Of Mit, Arrived In John Wheeler's Princeton Office To Report For Duty As His Teaching Assistant. The Prim And Proper Wheeler Timed Their Interaction With A Watch Placed On The Table. Feynman Caught On, And For The Next Meeting Brought His Own Cheap Watch, Set It On The Table Next To Wheeler's, And Also Began Timing The Chat. The Two Had A Hearty Laugh And A Lifelong Friendship Was Born. At First Glance, They Would Seem An Unlikely Pair. Feynman Was Rough On The Exterior, Spoke In A Working Class Queens Accent, And Loved Playing Bongo Drums, Picking Up Hitchhikers, And Exploring Out-of-the Way Places. Wheeler Was A Family Man, Spoke Softly And Politely, Dressed In Suits, And Had The Manners Of A Minister. Yet Intellectually, Their Roles Were Reversed. Wheeler Was A Raging Nonconformist, Full Of Wild Ideas About Space, Time, And The Universe. Feynman Was Very Cautious In His Research, Wanting To Prove And Confirm Everything Himself. Yet When Feynman Saw Merit In One Of Wheeler's Crazy Ideas And Found That It Matched Experimental Data, Their Joint Efforts Paid Off Phenomenally-- Introduction: A Revolution In Time -- Wheeler's Watch -- The Only Particle In The Universe -- All The Roads Not To Paradise -- The Hidden Paths Of Ghosts -- The Island And The Mountains: Mapping The Particle Landscape -- Life As An Amoeba In The Foamy Sea Of Possibilities -- Time's Arrow And The Mysterious Mr. X -- Minds, Machines, And The Cosmos -- Conclusion: The Way Of The Labyrinth -- Epilogue: Encounters With Wheeler. Paul Halpern, Phd. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Fall 1939. Feynman, a recent graduate of MIT, arrived in Wheeler's Princeton office to report for duty as his teaching assistant. Feynman was rough and adventurous; Wheeler a family man with the manners of a minister. At first glance an unlikely pair, but a lifelong friendship was born. Intellectually, Wheeler was a raging nonconformist, full of wild ideas about space, time, and the universe; Feynman was cautious in his research, wanting to prove and confirm everything himself. Halpern shows how their collaboration ensured that quantum physics would never be the same again