Time, clocks and parametric invariance

Abstract

In the context of a parametric theory (with the time being a dynamical variable) we consider here the coupling between the quantum vacuum and the background gravitation that pervades the universe (unavoidable because of the universality and long range of gravity). We show that this coupling, combined with the fourth Heisenberg relation, would break the parametric invariance of the gravitational equations, introducing thus a difference between the marches of the atomic and the astronomical clocks. More precisely, they would be progressively and adiabatically desynchronized with respect to one another in such a way that the latter would lag behind the former. This would produce a discrepancy between gravitational theory and observations, which use astronomical and atomic time respectively. It turns out that this result, surprising at it might be, is fully compatible with current physics, since it does not conflict with any known physical law or principle. We argue that this phenomenon must be studied, since it could have cosmological consequences.