Physicists simulate sending photons into the past
Within these series is condensed the essence of a theory known as the "grandfather paradox", which is often cited to state that time travel is impossible.
However, there are some researchers who believe the exact opposite.
A team of researchers from the University of Queensland has simulated how photons might behave in time travel, suggesting that the "grandfather paradox" could be solved at the quantum level.
The results of their research were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
According to a report by the British newspaper Daily Mail, the researchers used photons – particles of light – in their study to simulate the travel of quantum particles back in time.
By studying their behavior, scientists have uncovered possible, strange aspects of modern physics.
The researchers examined two possible outcomes: a photon's travel through time and its interaction with its larger self.
1991 was the first time it was predicted that time travel could be possible in the "quantum world," because quantum particles behave almost outside the realms of physics.
"The properties of quantum particles are vague or uncertain from the start, so there is plenty of room to avoid inconsistent situations when it comes to time travel," said Professor Timothy Ralph.
"The question of time travel is related to two of the most successful - yet incompatible - theories of physics: Einstein's general relativity and quantum mechanics," said University of Queensland doctoral student Martin Ringbauer.
"Einstein's theory describes the world on a very large scale of stars and galaxies, while quantum mechanics is an excellent description of the world on a very small scale of atoms and molecules," he added.
Einstein's theory suggests the possibility of traveling back in time, following a path in spacetime that returns to the starting point in space, but at an earlier stage in time - a closed time curve.
These include the "grandfather paradox", where a time traveler could prevent his grandparents from meeting, thereby preventing... his own birth.
However, this would make time travel impossible in the first place.
This new research, the publication concludes, suggests that these kinds of interactions could be possible, albeit only at the quantum level.

Physicists simulate sending photons into the past