Let P be some particle characterized by its quark coefficients and recall that these coefficients are used to define $\: N^{\sf{T}}$ as the number of top quarks and top anti-quarks in P. So $\: N^{\sf{T}}$ is also the total number of top seeds in P. Similarly $N^{\sf{B}}$ marks the number of bottom seeds, $N^{\sf{S}}$ notes the number of strange seeds and $N^{\sf{C}}$ indicates the number of charmed seeds. Taken together, these quantities describe the distribution of baryonic seeds in P. They are combined to define the temporal orientation as
$\delta _{ \it{t}} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\, \sf{T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\, \sf{C}} \; \; \sf{>} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \\ \; \; 0 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, C}} \; \; \sf{=} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, C}} \; \; \sf{<} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \end{cases}$
This number $\delta_{t}$ is used in the next few articles to assign a time of occurrence to P's events. It is compared with reference sensations to establish a relationship between the numerical order assigned to events, and the order in which they occur in history.
Bead Panel from a baby carrier, Bahau people, Borneo 20th century, 30 x 29 cm. From the Teo Family collection, Kuching. Photograph by D Dunlop. |
Upcoming articles go into more detail, but here is a preview of how $\delta _{t}$ is relevant for establishing a collective understanding time's direction. First, particles with the same temporal orientation satisfy a condition for being in thermodynamic equilibrium. Then, two particles that are in thermodynamic equilibrium with each other would interpret an interaction with a tepid particle in the same way; both would experience either a warming process, or a cooling process. But not one of each.
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Temporal Orientation |
Summary |
Adjective | Definition | |
Temporal Orientation | $\delta _{ \it{t}} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\, \sf{T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\, \sf{C}} \; \; \sf{>} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \\ \; \; 0 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, C}} \; \; \sf{=} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if}} \; \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, T}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, C}} \; \; \sf{<} \; \; \it{N}^{\sf{\, B}} \sf{+} \, \it{N}^{\sf{\, S}} \end{cases}$ | 6-4 |
Adjective | Definition | |
Tepid | $\delta _{ \it{t}} =0$ | 6-5 |