Through conversation with Dr. Pramod Dated: 02-08-2024
After our usual evening tea break, Pramod and I discussed the behavior of magnetic materials and the theory of spin ice. Pramod started by explaining a graph showing the relationship between magnetic susceptibility and temperature. The original quantum spin state of the system was determined when a magnetic field was applied, leading to specific heating and cooling trends, highlighting the significance of quantum states. However, when the experiment was repeated after 48 hours, the results differed. Pramod clarified that this inconsistency was due to the evolution of the quantum state over time. While the spatial wavefunction might revert to its initial state, the temporal wavefunction changes. This idea can be compared to the story of Raja Muchukand from Hindu mythology, who went to heaven to fight rakshasas for the gods and goddesses. Upon his return, he discovered that although a year had passed in heaven, 12,000 years had gone by on earth. As a result, he couldn't reunite with his kingdom and loved ones. This tale illustrates how ancient Hindu mythology touches on scientific concepts like time dilation.
The Mythological Tale:
Once upon a time, Devtalok, the celestial abode of gods, was under siege by the increasingly powerful Rakshasas (demons). The gods, led by Indra, the king of gods, were struggling to fend off these relentless attackers. In their desperation, they turned to King Muchukand, known for his unparalleled strength and valor.
Responding to their plea, King Muchukand ascended to Devtalok and joined the battle. Armed with divine weapons, he fought valiantly, decimating the Rakshasas one by one. The battle raged on for a year by Devtalok's time.
After achieving victory, Indra, grateful for Muchukand's assistance, offered him a boon. The king, however, humbly declined offers of wealth, kingdoms, and fame, stating that he had already experienced all these on Earth. He expressed his desire to return to his kingdom, queens, children, and subjects who awaited him back on Earth.
But Indra revealed a startling truth. Time flowed differently in Devtalok. What seemed like a year in Devtalok equated to an entire Yuga (epoch) on Earth. King Muchukand's kingdom, along with his loved ones, had long vanished into the annals of history. The world he knew no longer existed, and returning to Earth meant stepping into an entirely different era where no one would remember him or his lineage.
Connecting Mythology with Modern Science:
This ancient story beautifully illustrates the concept of time dilation. In the realm of modern physics, time dilation is a phenomenon described by Einstein's special theory of relativity. It posits that time moves at different rates for observers in different frames of reference, particularly those moving relative to one another at significant fractions of the speed of light.
In Muchukand's tale, the differing flow of time between Earth and Devtalok echoes the way time would pass differently for someone traveling at high speeds in space compared to someone remaining on Earth. Just as King Muchukand discovered that years had passed on Earth while he spent only a year in Devtalok, an astronaut traveling near the speed of light would age more slowly compared to people on Earth.
The story of King Muchukand serves as a timeless reminder of how ancient narratives can sometimes eerily prefigure modern scientific principles, weaving together the threads of mythology and science in a rich, cultural tapestry.
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