A glimpse of the future

If an experiment scheduled to be conducted by John Cramer and Warren Nagourney of the UW physics department succeeds, receiving messages from our future selves could be possible.

"If successful, we will be sending a signal 50 microseconds back in time," Cramer said. "This would seem instantaneous, but you would in fact receive the message before you sent it."

The basic setup of the experiment consists of a laser being shot into a crystal, which then splits the laser into two photons. These photons, although physically separated, are still "entangled" with each other.

Photons possess both wave-like and particle-like properties. One photon is shot into a sensor that recognizes either waves or particles. The other photon is shot into another sensor. Theoretically, as the sensor on the first photon is switched from detecting a wave to detecting a particle, the second photon should also switch, independent of human influence, thus demonstrating "nonlocality."

This related switching shows how a signal could be sent at a speed faster than light into the past.

If the experiment turns up a positive result, the field of faster-than-light communications could potentially explode.

"This would open the door to all kinds of wild things," Cramer said.

Through adjustments in the application of this process, problems such as the delay in signaling between rovers on Mars and NASA bases on Earth would be solved.

"With the right apparatus a NASA astronaut could drive a rover on Mars in real time," Cramer said.

Further development could in fact lead to eventually sending messages a significant amount of time into the past.

"What if," said Cramer, "you could receive messages from yourself in the future?"

Despite the fact that Cramer and Nagourney are attempting the experiment, they are not optimistic in their predictions of its outcome, despite having no concrete reasons for their doubt.

"A positive outcome goes so far against our usual ideas about quantum mechanics I don't see how it is possible," Nagourney said.

"My prediction is that this experiment won't work," Cramer said, "but I don't know why it won't work."

The experiment is scheduled to take place in the next one to six months, depending on the availability of equipment. Despite their pessimism about the experiment, Cramer and Nagourney do not feel as if their efforts are in vain.

"Even if we are unsuccessful," said Nagourney, "it does not mean that this experiment will not pave a road for a similar one that may work someday."

Reporter Camden Swita: news@thedaily.washington.edu