Is there an actual mathematical equation for time travel?
There is a mathematical equation for actual (as opposed to relative) time dilation due to acceleration, which is the basis of “The Twin Paradox”. When accelerated, clocks tick at a rate of t’ = t(1 + Φ / c2) where Φ is the difference in gravitational potential. In the Twin Paradox, Φ = gh where g is the acceleration of the traveling twin during turnaround and h is the distance to the stay-at-home twin. h is a positive value in this case since the rocket is firing towards the stay-at-home twin thereby placing that twin at a higher gravitational potential. What this means is that a traveler, if he went fast enough, could even reach the furthest galaxies within his lifetime – but not within the lifetime of Earth or the Sun. In short, by going mind-bogglingly fast you can effectively travel into “the future” as far as those you leave behind are concerned. But you can’t go back in time.
