Quantum Reality
The laws of physics have, and had, a very broad influence on a wide range disciplines. A large part of modern civilization is built on laws formulated on our perceptions of the natural world. Many laws defined in physics eventually propagate to other seemingly unrelated areas as the use of the laws evolves. A notable figure in the history of physics is Sir Isaac Newton. His observations on cause and effect have propelled physics into a new era at the time and today Newton’s laws of motion are deeply ingrained into all kinds of fields like economics, politics, psychology etc.
Reductionism also helped us to understand a great deal of the world since a problem was reduced to its smaller parts and studied until a mechanistic view of the problem was formed. This together with Newton’s laws gave us the ability to create machines like automobiles, aeroplanes and toasters.
Breaking things down into smaller and smaller subsystems led scientist to discover the world of electrons, protons and neutrons. This field of study is now known as Quantum Physics and it has changed scientists’ perception of reality in an unbelievable way. It turned out that the laws of classical physics weren’t very effective as it appears that these particles have properties of waves AND localised particles (The double-slit experiment is a good example of this “wave-particle duality”). The particles would have no discernable attributes, like location for instance, of localized particles until it is measured. This means that a particle would appear to behave like a wave until we decide to take a peek by using some sort of a detector and then, miraculously, it appears to be a localized particle. Words like “weird” and “bizarre” are often overused to describe behaviour of objects in quantum theory (one of the reasons why authors of sci-fi shows like Star Trek like it so much- “Quantum Tequila”).
Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it - Niels Bohr
This strange behaviour of particles lies at the very heart of our understanding of the physical properties of the world and quantum theory is used in many applications (including television, CD-players and microwaves), but the explanation of this odd behaviour has baffled scientists and enthusiasts all over the world. One theory that tries to explain this quantum weirdness of ‘travel as a wave but arrive as a particle’ is one that suggests that the particle is not a material wave at all, but a “probability wave”. In other words, the particle does not have a definite location, but has a probability of being here or there, or somewhere else entirely. An electron that is not being observed does not exist as a particle at all, but has a wave-like property covering the areas of probability where it could be found. Once the electron is observed, the wave function collapses and the electron becomes a particle. If the theory is correct, its implications are profound. What it suggests is that nothing is real until it has been observed!
This theory forms a central part of the Copenhagen Interpretation and caused some very well respected cosmologists (Stephen Hawking included) to worry that this implies that there must actually be something ‘outside’ the universe to look at the universe as a whole and collapse its overall wave function. John Wheeler puts forward an argument that it is only the presence of conscious observers, in the form of ourselves, that has collapsed the wave function and made the universe exist. If we take this to be true, then the universe only exists because we are looking at it.
The change in approach to science quantum physics has caused has been tremendous- from the perceiver being separate from the perception to the perceiver being part of and influencing it. A possible analogy could be that of taking a measurement with a thermometer in a test-tube containing a warm liquid- the measurement wouldn’t be the true temperature of the liquid, but that of the warm liquid minus the energy it took to warm up the thermometer. The fact that it is being measured affects the actual measurement. It has led devout scientists to look toward mysticism, religion and the conscious mind for new theories in the hope to explain some of unanswered questions raised by quantum physics.
In my previous post Relative Truth, I concluded that a large part of our relative reality is based on truths that we chose to accept. Could it be possible that our perceptions, thoughts and beliefs - measurements - of reality affect objective reality more than we realize?
Reference:
What is quantum mechanics?
See also:
Wave-particle duality
Schrödinger’s cat
EPR paradox
Quantum mechanics
Quantum - Jim Al-Khalili
The Turning Point - Fritjof Capra
November 7th, 2005 at 3:05 pm
Once again I am astonished to find a reflection of the scientific truths (mostly from North of the equator) reflected in our African wisdom.
Firstly — Just like a tree, a house, a hand … a cat (Schrödinger) and the universe (Hawking) is only there once it is observed so also our African culture of Ubuntu teaches us that “i only exist if you acknowledge me”. As much as we are only there when we are seen, we also often only feel alive when we are observed by that special some one whom at the particular time of observation seems to be - THE ONE.
Secondly — a lesson from our own wise philosopher Jan Smuts “the whole is always bigger than the parts”. From the teacher of Holism I take that even if we are urged to break things, problems and feelings down to their minutes, seemingly insignificant smallest Quarks the whole still remains bigger than the particles. Undoubtedly the skill to deconstruct gives us insights we might not have when relating systemic interrelation between pieces - yet there is some magic held in the perfect wholeness that deconstruction can not give us. Yes my hand exists mostly of open spaces and I should be able to put my pencil right through it - yet the magic lies in the wholeness of believing the magic that it is in fact solid.
shodan - take a look at this site and check out the movie. You will relate and probably enjoy http://www.whatthebleep.com/
November 9th, 2005 at 6:28 pm
In Fritjof Capra’s “The Truning Point” the author suggests the argument that many of our problems as a civilization can be attributed to the Newtonian-Cartesian paradigm which is deeply ingrained in our society. He argues that our ignorance of inter-connectedness between systems causes us to miss the important processes between them. He uses the example that in medicine we have almost mapped the human genome, but it is still not very clear how the human body heals it self. Physicians are accused of treating symptoms and not the cause. An individual might get a triple hart bypass caused by poor living habits and walk out of the hospital after a few days without further treatment. In this case further treatment would entail treating the poor living habits by referring him to a personal trainer for an exercise program, a dietician for a better eating program and the tracking the individuals progress for a few months.
Interestingly he points out that we have become our own biggest problem since, as examples, a huge amount of diseases treated in a First world country are “diseases of luxury” like heart disease and our habitathas become more volatile because of green house emissions that we produce causing global warming. According to the book, this is the biggest cause of great empires like the Roman Empire to fall. He urges us to adopt a systemic or holistic view of the world before the western civilization suffers the same fate.
November 17th, 2005 at 10:38 pm
[…] From a very young age space arrests my imagination and I have always wanted to be an explorer of its enigmatic and infinite mysteries. For a very long time I aspired to become an astronaut until I realized that today it seems like being thrown in the air within nothing but a big steel bucket as your ship when compared to “tomorrows” exploring of M-Class planets and massive neutrino nebulae as a maverick captain of a faster-than-light-starship called the “Enterprise”. Sure it’s only science fiction (and the second geekish reference to Star Trek), but that is what I imagine and long for every time I look up into the starry void. […]