Visualization of multidimensional time

Abstract

Time generally is assumed to be a scalar: it can be sorted, is unidirectional, and has only a single dimension. In this work we demonstrate that vector-valued multidimensional time can be defined meaningfully, simulated efficiently, and visualized in an interactive manner. We present two particular simulations, providing a first look at what hypertime may be "like" from both a physical and a navigational perspective. Although similar in many ways to our experience, mT phenomena also differ from 1T phenomena on a fundamental level. Our visualization framework motivates observations of some of these differences and helps us identify a variety of open tasks that will further our understanding of the characteristics of time, whatever its dimensionality. Together, these results form a basis from which arbitrary space-time dimensionalities can be understood.