3 ms·
"Measuring a system will generally change its state from one in which each possible outcome has some non-zero probability to one in which only one outcome occur
by whack 10y ago
"Measuring a system will generally change its state from one in which each possible outcome has some non-zero probability to one in which only one outcome occurs. That’s a lot like what happens when, in the die game, you learn that the die does, in fact, show a six. It seems strange to think that the world would change simply because you measured something. But if it is just your knowledge that changes, things don’t seem so strange."
This is the only interpretation of quantum theory that makes sense to me. The idea that an objective reality of the world has changed, through our act of observation, leads to absurd conclusions such as Schrodinger's cat being simultaneously alive and dead at the same time. I believe this is the same point that Schrodinger tried to make with his thought experiment as well.
- wu-ikkyu 10y agoSo the most logical interpretation of quantum physics is that reality is subjective, correct?
- philipov 10y agoNo, the most logical interpretation of quantum mechanics is that you can't measure things without using particle interactions, and particle interactions change what they interact with.
- danharaj 10y agoI don't think that's enough. Particle interactions are unitary, but measurement looks non-unitary from the point of view of the observer. Reality is intersubjective, but not subjectivist.
- philipov 10y agoI think confusion arises when people hear 'measurement' and jump to thinking "wait, what's so special about measurement? Would the world not exist if we weren't there to measure it?" This is due to an imprecise understanding of measurement, and should be corrected by pointing out all particle interactions are measurements. Our classical world exists without superposition because there are enough particles interacting with each other that everything is constantly being measured.
- singham 10y agoI cannot agree with this more. Universe has been existing without intelligent observers for billions of years. It stands to reason that universe is constantly being shaped as particles interact.
- zspade 10y agoReality is objective, but our perception of it is subjective given our current limited understanding of it.
- petters 10y agoSure, it makes sense. But reality is complex. The amplitudes of the wave function are real (no puns intended) and the Bell inequalities are also real. It's not just about incomplete knowledge.
- whack 10y agoHypothesis 1: Schroedinger's cat is either alive, or dead, but not both. We will not know what the outcome is, until we take a look inside. Hypothesis 2: Schroedinger's cat is simultaneously both alive and dead. Our taking a look will "collapse the wave function" which could then result in the cat dying. Is there any concrete evidence to believe in hypothesis 2 over hypothesis 1? If not, I'd rather go with the hypothesis that doesn't sound absurd.
- burkaman 10y agoIsn't the double slit experiment evidence for hypothesis 2?
- whack 10y agoThe double slit experiment shows that light has properties traditionally associated with waves (as opposed to particles). Can you clarify how this is related to hypothesis 2?
- RandomOpinion 10y ago> The double slit experiment shows that light has properties traditionally associated with waves (as opposed to particles). Even for photons sent through one at a time? Nope. That's not behavior associated with any type of wave.
- AnimalMuppet 10y agoWell, it says that individual photons are still waves.