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> The universe is virtually certain to fall into a lower-energy quantum vacuum state. That we have not observed it to be the case means either that we have been
by T-A 9y ago
> The universe is virtually certain to fall into a lower-energy quantum vacuum state. That we have not observed it to be the case means either that we have been astonishingly lucky, or that there is a selection process going on.
If that is the most solid argument in favor of the quantum multiverse, this paper is a disaster. See Eq. 6.28: the probability that we should have seen a bubble by now is < 10^-516.
- jerf 9y agoWhen I quoted that argument, I was not saying it was 100% accurate; after all, I don't believe it myself. If further work comes along to prove that the collapse into the lower state is not highly probable, then the argument collapses. Again, not accepting the multiverse anyhow, that the best argument in its favor collapses would not particularly bother me. Of course, it would not constitute evidence against, merely a lack of evidence for. Now, some people with a insufficiently deep understanding of probabilities and such will say those two things are completely different, but they aren't; lack of evidence for is indeed a form of evidence against, especially if one is actively searching for the evidence. It just isn't very strong, and it certainly isn't a proof.