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Nature being continuous is exactly the reason why our universe is not a simulation.

by GoblinSlayer 2y ago

aswegs8 2y ago
Quantum mechanics teaches us nature isn't continuous though.
- wcoenen 2y ago
  The energy levels of electrons bound to atoms/molecules are quantized, and therefore the energy levels of photons emitted/absorbed (when those electrons change energy levels) are quantized. But as far as I understand that is just the result of constraints imposed by the atom/molecule "box". Like how a guitar string can only vibrate at certain frequencies because an integer multiple of wavelengths of the standing wave must fit on the string. Outside of such systems, energy levels are not quantized. For example, photons from distant galaxies appear to be redshifted on a continuous spectrum.
  - d_tr 2y ago
    And even within the box the energy levels can be varied continuously if, for example, you squeeze the molecule or put it in an electric field.
viraptor 2y ago
Has this been actually proven? I remember multiple experiments trying to prove the opposite - both effectively a discrete-like and a grid-like universe. Wolfram for example has some ideas about discrete graphs https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-have-a-path-to-the-fundamental-theory-of-physics-and-its-beautiful/ https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-h...
- d_tr 2y ago
  > Has this been actually proven? Neither proven nor disproven in any capacity. Also I have no clue how anyone could assert that the universe being "continuous" (whatever that means) could be casually claimed by anyone to have any link to our universe being "a simulation" (whatever that means) or not.
  - GoblinSlayer 2y ago
    >Simulations are usually vastly simpler than the substrate they run on. So to simulate continuum you need a transfinite VM. It will be more efficient to just run the universe bare metal.
kalb_almas 2y ago
Can't continuousness be simulated by lazy evaluation? Also you're assuming the simulator is bound by the same physical limitations that exist inside the simulation which seems unreasonable to me. Simulations are usually vastly simpler than the substrate they run on.

Nature being continuous is exactly the reason why our universe is not a simulation.

aswegs8 2y ago

Quantum mechanics teaches us nature isn't continuous though.

wcoenen 2y ago
The energy levels of electrons bound to atoms/molecules are quantized, and therefore the energy levels of photons emitted/absorbed (when those electrons change energy levels) are quantized. But as far as I understand that is just the result of constraints imposed by the atom/molecule "box". Like how a guitar string can only vibrate at certain frequencies because an integer multiple of wavelengths of the standing wave must fit on the string. Outside of such systems, energy levels are not quantized. For example, photons from distant galaxies appear to be redshifted on a continuous spectrum.
- d_tr 2y ago
  And even within the box the energy levels can be varied continuously if, for example, you squeeze the molecule or put it in an electric field.

viraptor 2y ago

Has this been actually proven? I remember multiple experiments trying to prove the opposite - both effectively a discrete-like and a grid-like universe. Wolfram for example has some ideas about discrete graphs https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-have-a-path-to-the-fundamental-theory-of-physics-and-its-beautiful/ https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2020/04/finally-we-may-h...

d_tr 2y ago
> Has this been actually proven? Neither proven nor disproven in any capacity. Also I have no clue how anyone could assert that the universe being "continuous" (whatever that means) could be casually claimed by anyone to have any link to our universe being "a simulation" (whatever that means) or not.
- GoblinSlayer 2y ago
  >Simulations are usually vastly simpler than the substrate they run on. So to simulate continuum you need a transfinite VM. It will be more efficient to just run the universe bare metal.

kalb_almas 2y ago

Can't continuousness be simulated by lazy evaluation? Also you're assuming the simulator is bound by the same physical limitations that exist inside the simulation which seems unreasonable to me. Simulations are usually vastly simpler than the substrate they run on.