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Would not an infinite electron field in a finite (observable) universe result in an infinite energy density and therefore the entire universe would collapse int
by danparsonson 5y ago
Would not an infinite electron field in a finite (observable) universe result in an infinite energy density and therefore the entire universe would collapse into a black hole?
- layer8 5y agoIntegrals over a finite interval can have (and often do have) a finite size even though the interval contains an infinite number of points, with an infinite number of different values at those point.
- danparsonson 5y agoRight, because the integral of a function is not a straight sum of values of that function evaluated for every number in the interval; the integral of y=x dx for 0<=x<=1 is not 0+0.1+0.11+0.111+0.1111+...+1. Electrons have a fixed energy, so cramming an infinite number of them into a finite space necessarily requires infinite energy.
- wizzwizz4 5y agoI'd argue you can't cram any electrons into any finite space without infinite energy. But we're not really talking quantum physics, here.
- danparsonson 5y agoI'm not sure what you mean - any battery you have would seem to contradict you - would you elaborate?
- wizzwizz4 5y agoThe electrons are not wholly within the battery; they are mostly within the battery. (Batteries discharge over time for an almost completely unrelated reason.)
- danparsonson 5y agoI think you're misinterpreting the meaning of the wave equation. Batteries self-discharge due to chemical reactions not quantum tunneling.
- layer8 5y agoWell, I was referring to the electron field, not to electrons. According to QFT, particles are excitations of an underlying quantum field. It’s the field that is fundamental, not the particle. See e.g. [0]. And those fields are continuous, not discrete, i.e. can only be described by an infinite number of points and values. [0] https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-is-a-particle-20201112/ https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-is-a-particle-20201112/
- danparsonson 5y agoGreat read, thanks. I think I see the point you're making now - any continuity necessarily requires an infinity by virtue of being continuous.