SpaceTime and Domains

One result of Domain theory is the divorcing of speculation on dimensions and spacetime from issues of Domains.

All Domains have similar dimensions, obedience to relativity, and exist within the bounds of spacetime. While particle masses can affect spacetime and other-Domain particles may have unusual states within spacetime, they are not 'outside' of normal space.

There are, however, important questions that have been raised about the dimensions of space and the fabric of spacetime.

It is well known that faster than light speeds create the possibility of acausal events (the results of events occurring before their cause, or a cause causing itself), due to relativity. The explanation of this is broadly reported and will not be repeated here.

Examination of some unusual phenomena, ⁽¹⁾ however, suggest that information or even matter can move faster than the speed of light. While these phenomena were first noted during communication with the Darks and originally seemed associated with Domain effects, it is now suspected that these effects arise separately from Domain forces.

FTL effects necessarily involve time travel - they are, in fact, Time travel, when observed from a suitable inertial frame. Time travel violates causality, and this has been thought impossible. However, there are a number of ways in which FTL effects can be 'safe', resulting in observed reality and avoiding paradox. A commonly invoked model is that of quantum 'collapse' of chaotic timelines. That is, timelines that are not internally consistant or are 'unstable' disappear. Only consistant timelines continue forward to be observed. This is a rather silly result more suited to drama than real science.

A more reasonable solution, consistant with observation, is that of a preferred external reference frame.

A reference frame is a point of view, a base velocity by which other phenomena are measured. Relativity explains why there is no single 'real' reference frame within spacetime. Again, the explanation can be found elsewhere, but it is a fact. There is, however, no limitation that applies to an external single reference frame, through which FTL motion is consistant in velocity.

If FTL does not have a single reference frame, paradox can be created by rather simple experiments. If one object accelerates away from an observer at a great rate, then moves at 'instantaneous speed' (relative to itself) forward along its vector, it will appear to move back in time, relative to the observer.

However, if FTL is always instantaneous to a single reference frame, FTL movement cannot be used to generate paradox.

In the previous example, consider the initial observer to be at the same reference frame (velocity) as the external FTL reference frame. The object accelerating will teleport forward instantaneously... relative to the observer. Relative to the object, it will have moved very slowly forward and time will have passed.

If the object teleports back along its vector, it will go back in time relative to itself, though not to the observer. While this seems problematic, the single FTL reference frame means that it cannot interfere with itself, no matter how it accelerates.

Though other FTL reference frames could exist, the examples above use a reference frame that observations suggest exists.

This frame provides 'instantaneous' motion with respect to a spacetime reference frame. The spacetime reference frame is that of the average velocity of the Milky Way galaxy, motionless overall relative to itself. This is thought to be tied to the 'fabric' of spacetime, bending and shifting over distance due to the expansion of space. That is, the reference frame at great distances is different than the local, in the same manner as the velocity observed as redshift. It is theorized that a very long distance FTL motion will 'translate' consistently between reference frames, avoiding possible paradox.

Mathematically this can be linked to the familiar Mach's principal, which explains the origin of inertia as the gravitational "background" of mass in the Universe.

All of this presents a consistant and reasonable framework that all matter, of whatever Domain, falls into. Other types of particles are not completely alien, they share spacetime and the boundaries that our form of matter does. Though it is tempting to come up with exotic theories of time travel or movement 'beyond' spacetime (if such even has any meaning), there is no need. Domain phenomena are mysterious and difficult to observe, but they are components of the same reality conventional physics describes.