Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Killing the cat?



This graphic from New Scientist, and conversations last night at the Science Museum, got me thinking. Using Schrödinger’s cat as a way to illustrate the differences between interpretations of quantum theory is a nice idea. But it suffers from the flaw that challenges the entire thought experiment. In order to be able to talk about the scenario in quantum terms, we need to be able to express it in quantum terms. But we can’t, because “live cat” and “dead cat” are not well-defined quantum states.

What, you can’t tell a live cat from a dead cat? Nonsense! Well yes, it is; but that’s not we’re asking here. What quantum property is it, exactly, that characterizes the superposition state, and that will enable you, unambiguously and in a single shot, to distinguish the two classical states? Live and dead are not quantum variables, and I’m not at all sure that they can be correlated even in principle with quantum variables that can be placed in superposition states.

Schrödinger’s point was not, in any case, that these are two different states of a macroscopic object, but that they are logically exclusive states. The paradox lies not in “two states at once”, but in “two contradictory states at once”. He was pointing not to “weird behaviour” predicted by quantum theory, but to logical paradoxes.

And this is why the Many Worlds Interpretation doesn’t resolve the problem. Yes, it looks as though it does: both outcomes are true! As New Scientist puts it here, “The universe splits. Your cat is dead, but in a parallel world it remains alive.” (Or, as Rowan Hooper points out, vice versa.) But wait: your cat? Who is you? Whose cat is it in the other world?

Brian Greene, in The Hidden Reality, tells us: that is you too! They are both you. Oh, so that sentence reads “Your cat is dead, but your cat remains alive.” Greene isn’t troubled by the fact that this is not how “you” works. But nevertheless, this is not how “you” works.

David Deutsch and Max Tegmark say, ah language! What should we trust more, language or maths? Contingent sounds, or timeless equations? But here language is articulating something that underpins maths, which is logic. Schrödinger realized that, but his point seems to be forgotten (by some). I don’t have time to go into it here (my forthcoming book will), but individual identity is a logical construct. You can’t wish it away with fantasies about “other yous”. I am trying to resist the topical urge to suggest that the Many Worlds interpretation offers us “alternative facts”, but that is terribly hard to do. So folks, the second option here is far more problematic than it looks.

What about the first? Let me say first of all that in neither the Copenhagen nor the Many Worlds interpretation is the cat “simultaneously alive and dead”. Not only is there no way of expressing that in quantum mechanics (at least, no one has articulated one), but in any event the proper statement of the situation is that “We can say nothing about the state of the cat, other than that live and dead are both possible outcomes of an observation”. That might sound like a pedantic distinction, but it will not be possible to make sense of quantum mechanics without it.

Now, I would hesitate to call the Copenhagen interpretation the “standard” interpretation, since there is no consensus, nor even a majority view, about which is the correct interpretation of quantum mechanics, at least among those who think about foundational issues. What’s more, the “Copenhagen interpretation” is not a single thing: Heisenberg expressed it differently to Bohr, and Wheeler had his own view too, as did others. However, I think Bohr would have said something like this: after observation, we have acquired now information that has changed our view of the cat’s condition (assuming it can be expressed in quantum terms at all) from an indeterminate to a determinate one. Some Copenhagenists, such as Pascual Jordan, spoke of this in causative terms: our observations produce the results. In that view, it seems acceptable to say that “Your measurement killed the cat” (although since we cannot say that it was previously alive, we might need to say more strictly “Your measurement elicited a dead cat”). But I’m not at all sure that Bohr would have seen causation at work in the measurement, as if “wavefunction reduction” is a physical effect that kills the cat. (That’s really the third, “objective collapse” option, which is given the least problematic representation here.) I think Bohr might have said something along the lines that “Observation allows us to speak about the classical state of the cat. And look, it is a dead one!”

So, which way will you vote? Bear in mind, however, that there are other option available, not all of them mutually exclusive. And that you won’t be able to prove that you’re right, of course.

24 comments:

Jayarava said...

Or more simply: quantum doesn't scale up and almost everyone reifies the "cat" metaphor.

Chemdiary said...

I think it is clear for the cat metaphor. The cat is either alive or dead and the observation does not change the outcome. The cat must have been dead/alive before we open the box.

For particles, what if we find an indirect way to measure the momentum or the position of the particle? Such that it will ALWAYS give you the exact same outcome? How would the theoretical physicists interpret it?

Christian Vogel said...

Wow, great art of thinking.....also your brilliant article about the link between consciousness and QM

My question is: Couldn't the Transactional Interpretation of QM by John Cramer, when time is responsible for decoherence solve the problem ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transactional_interpretation

My concept is that consciousness aka information is crucial for creation and to equate consciousness with waves and fields with speed of light,the wave eqauation and probability. I believe in time to be responsible when coherent probabilty becomes decoherent mater. We can even interprete "....in the beginning was the word...." of the gospel of John to see information and consciousness to be crucial for creation.

We might find a solution for the miracle of creation when we compare the christian trinity of father, son and holy spirit with the scientifical trinity of energy, matter and consciousness/information. The pattern is the same. There is something material: matter and son, something immaterial: energy and father and something mental: consciousness/information and holy spirit.......

Physics need energy for the singularity and the bigbang and to be honest: it needs a little bit more than energy: it needs consciousness, information, equations to build a universe......

We might ask the question why of all things it was necessary to quantize energy to avoid the ultraviolet catastrophe while we consider ultraviolet as an "event horizon" of the visible to the unvisible.

What if "love" is like coherence,like a harmony of waves and fields and to be felt physically as e(nergy)motion, excuted by a move of our mind.

In one of his books Douglas Adams mentions: "The Universe is a product of its own fantasy" and i believe there is no smarter and easier explanation of creation than this sentence......

Unknown said...

when i read title i think it very scare :(
free time you can visit my website
danh bai online
phom
bai tien len
diem tin hài moi ngày
tin tuc giai trí cap nhat
thank you

Blog tổng hợp - Những bài viết hay liên quan về nhiều thứ said...

On site: cung hoàng đạo

The article is very interesting.
Please visit our website: boi tinh yeu,
tu vi 2017, 12 cung hoang dao, tu vi hang tuan

Unknown said...

Thanks share
Tu vi 2017 chi tiet
Ty huu phong thuy dep
Xem tuoi xay nha dep cho nam 2017
Tu vi 12 con giap dep cho nam 2017

Unknown said...

Invite you see : cam nang mua sam same same :
cung bạch dương hợp màu gì
We webiste we are : giải mã giấc mơ thấy máu as tử vi tuần cung kim ngưu và xử nữ

Unknown said...

xoc dia

Unknown said...

Cùng xem coi boi 2017 chính xác nhất tại đây.
Hoặc có thể theo dõi thêm tử vi hàng ngày những bài tử vi vui cho bạn mỗi ngày.
Hơn nữa vong deo tay phong thuy mang lại may mắn sự thịnh vượng cho gia đình bạn.
vòng mã não lên bàn làm việc hoặc phòng khách mang tài lộc cho chủ nhân.

www.m88co.com said...

Hướng dẫn người chơi cá độ bóng đá tham gia cá cược m88 nhà cái uy tín khuyến mại cao lên đến 600$ khi bạn dang ky m88 tại website cá cược online của chúng tôi

maintenanceg said...

افضل قطع لغيار بأقل الاسعار تجدوها من خلال صيانة سامسونج في مصر ان من خلال توكيل صيانة سامسونج وفروعه المنتشره عبر جميع انحاء جمهورية مصر العربية تعرفوا عليها من خلال خدمة عملاء سامسونج في مصر.

care olders said...

افضل خدمة مقدمة من خلالنا في اكبر دار رعاية مسنين في جميع انحاءجمهورية مصر العربية علي اعلي مستوي في اكبر دار رعاية مسنين في مصر والعالم العربي فقط من خلالنا.

Unknown said...

تواصلوا معنا في اكبر شركة حراسات خاصة وهي شركة لحارس الخاص والتي تعتبر اكبر وافضل شركة امن وحراسة في جميع انحاء مصر وبأفضا الاسعار والخدمات.

hotelrestaurant said...

افضل خدمات صيانة معدات مطابخ في جميع انحاء مصر وبأفضل الاسعار من خلال موقع دليلك واللذي يقدم لكم افضل الخدمات في جميع انحاء جمهورية مصر العربية واللذي يقدم لكم ايضا خدمات صيانة معدات محلات في مصر.

Hồng Nhung said...

Please see the divination information xem boi tu vi 2018 and tu vi 2018
Would you like tuoi xong nha 2018 this year?
Watch

dokdok said...

เลเซอร์หน้าใส เป็นอีกหนึ่งสิ่งใหม่ทางความงดงามที่ช่วยฟื้นฟูผิวหนังที่แห้งหยาบ บริเวณใบหน้าหมองคล้ำให้กลับมาแจ่มใสมองเบิกบานใจ ผ่องใสภายในช่วงเวลาอันเร็ว นับว่าเป็นทางลัดความงดงามที่กำลังเป็นที่นิยมสูง ช่วยเอาใจใส่ผิวให้ขาวกระจ่างขาวสวยใส จากการลดลางเลือนริ้วรอยจุดด่างดำได้อย่างมีคุณภาพ

เลเซอร์หน้าใส
เลเซอร์ลดริ้วรอย
เลเซอร์รอยสิว

Hoàng Quyên said...

công nghệ 3s nơi cập nhật nhiều thông tin hấp dẫn về công nghệ thông tin cho bạn.
Cùng đánh giá nhanh đánh giá tình hình công nghệ hiện nay

mocquang said...

Mộc Quang xin kính chào các bác!

Chúng tôi rất hân hạnh được mang đến các sản phẩm vòng tay phong thủy gỗ quý: gỗ Huyết Long, gỗ Sưa đỏ, gỗ Trầm Hương,..được làm hoàn toàn thủ công từ gỗ 100% tự nhiên. Xưởng sản xuất của Mộc Quang được đặt tại làng nghề Nhị Khê – ngôi làng có truyền thống hàng trăm năm nghề tiện gỗ. Hy vọng được các bác ủng hộ.

Trân trọng cảm ơn!

Ralph Steil said...

your post was very helpful and Great article. please keep it up such great work.
Kindly have a look on below link i hope it will be very useful for youFree redeem Netflix gift cards

NEJA GEMSTONES said...

Người xưa tin rằng đá thạch anh phong thủy không chỉ đem lại may mắn mà nếu được trưng trong nhà như quả cầu cũng tăng trường khí, bên cạnh đó đeo trang sức vong deo tay thach anh toc vang bên người giúp bạn thu hút tài lộc, tỏa sáng, nâng cao năng lực lãnh đạo, vong deo tay thach anh den giúp xua đuổi tà khí, vận rủi

บาคาร่า said...

How to choose a sa sa king789 game?
Currently playing online casino games Seems like it was normal for everyone to seek fortune. Make money together The online casino games in this period have interesting games such as online slots, fish shooting games, card games, or sa baccarat games, which are casino games that are currently hot. And make very good money for players If anyone is interested, they can sign up to play sa baccarat game with our online casino website for 24 hours and today we will introduce a casino website suitable for playing baccarat online games. sa for you to get to know So that you can create happiness Increase the fun of playing casino games, baccarat sa more than ever.
Choose to play casino games with sa king789
When you want to play online casino games, sa Baccarat can come to play the game sa king789, which today we will tell the difference in playing baccarat game with sa king789.
• sa king789 is a trusted online gaming website Because it is a website that has been open for over ten thousand members, so be assured that playing sa game baccarat with us will definitely make money.
• You will receive many interesting online promotions when entering to play baccarat games here. In order to please the members of the web We have a free credit promotion that will allow you to save money for you to invest in playing baccarat games. Allows you to make more money than before
• The game system of sa king789 is reliable for all games. Because the game is produced by RH, a leading programmer
• In addition to baccarat, sa king789 also has other casino games that are very interesting for you to try. Whether it is a card game, Baccarat, Roulette, slots are available for you to play as you wish.
• sa king789 has an automatic withdrawal service, allowing gamers to be comfortable More comfortable whether deposited Or want to withdraw the money from playing baccarat games
Can believe that if you want Or interested in playing baccarat games with sa king789, you will find fun, excitement and many great privileges that will help you enjoy. And make money from our online casino website However, you can ask for more details about playing baccarat online at our online casino. We have a team to help with every step of your game application. There are also sa game techniques for you to study to increase your chances of making money for you. If you do not want to miss this special offer, hurry to become a member with sa king789.
บาคาร่า

kemika7384 said...

4 เหตุผลที่จะทำให้ท่านไม่ผิดหวังเมื่อเลือกเข้ามาเล่นเกมสล็อต pussy888
ความสนุกสนานจากการเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ในสมัยปัจจุบันนี้ สร้างได้ง่าย รวมทั้งเร็วกว่าสมัยเก่ามากมาย วยรูปอบบเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ในขณะนี้เป็นเกมที่เล่นง่าย เข้าใจง่าย กลบได้โอกาสสำหรับการทำเงินได้รวดเร็วทันใจมากมายว่าเดิมมากมาย ทำให้มีผู้เล่นพอใจเข้าไปเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเกมสล็อต pussy888 ซึ่งเป็นเกมคาสิโนยุคใหม่ที่เหมาะสมกับคนรุ่นหลังที่บางทีก็อาจจะไม้คยเล่นเกมคาสิโนมาก่อน หรือปรารถนาแหลงเล่นเกมเยอะขึ้นเรื่อยๆกว่าเดิม โดยในวันนี้พวกเรามี 4 เหตุผลที่คุณควรจะทราบก่อนจะเข้ามาสมัครเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ สล็อต pussy888 เพื่อเป็นแถวทางที่จะสามารถช่วยให้ท่านสามารถตกลงใจเข้ามาสนุกสนาน รวมทั้งตื่นเต้นกับเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์นี้ได้ง่ายดายมากยิ่งขึ้น
4 เหตุผลที่จะสามารถช่วยให้ท่านตกลงใจเข้ามาสมัครเล่นเกมสล็อตpussy888 ได้ง่ายดายมากยิ่งกว่าเดิม
การเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ ยอดเยี่ยมในตัวเลือกดีๆที่จะสามารถช่วยให้ผู้เล่นเกมสามารถทำเงิน รวมทั้งสนุกสนาน ตื่นเต้นไปกับการเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ได้มากขึ้นกว่าเดิม แล้วก็ยังช่วยทำให้ผู้ล่นสามารถตกลงใจได้ง่ายดายมากยิ่งขึ้นเมื่ออยากเข้ามาบันเทิงใจ หรือเล่นเกมสล็อตpussy888
เกมสล็อต เป็นเกมคาสิโนออนไลนืที่เล่นง่าย ทำให้ผู้เล่นสามารถรู้เรื่อง รวมทั้งเลือกเล่นเกมคาสิโนสล็อตpussy888 ได้ง่าย และก็เร็วที่สุด ที่สำคัญ เกมสล็อตออนไลน์นี้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นนักเล่นวัยไหน รุ่นไหน ก็สามารถเข้ามาสมัคร เพื่อเล่นเกมสล็อตpussy888 กับพวกเราได้ตลอดระยะเวลา
เกมสล็อต pussy888 เป็นเกมที่สร้างตวามสนุกสนาน ความระทึกใจ ให้กับผู้เล่นได้อย่างดีเยี่ยม ซึ่งความเพลิดเพลินที่ผู้เล่นได้รับนี้จะมากับเกมที่สามารถจะช่วยทุเลาความตึงเครียดให้กับผู้เล่นได้อย่างดีเยี่ยม
ผู้เล่นสามารถสร้างรายได้มากขึ้นให้กับตนเอง แล้วก็คนที่อาศัยอยู่ในครอบครัวได้อีกหนึ่งหนทาง ซึ่งแน่ๆว่า ทำให้ผู้เล่นเกมสล็อตpussy888 ไม่มีความจำเป็นที่จะต้องออกไปสร้างรายได้เพิ่มขึ้นเรื่อยๆ เพียงแค่สมัคร รวมทั้งเลือกเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์นี้ก็พอเพียงแล้ว
เกมคาสิโนออนไลน์อื่นตเพศผู้เล่นบางครั้งก็อาจจะไม่อาจจะระบุวงเงิที่จะนำไปวางเดิมพันเองได้ แม้กระนั้นสล็อต
pussy888 ตัวของผู้เล่นสามารถเลือกได้ว่าจำเป็นที่จะต้องการลงเงินสำหรับพนันเท่าใด เล่นเกมแบบไหนที่สามารถช่วยให้เพศผู้เล่นประหยัดเงิน และไม่มีปัญหาสำหรับเพื่อการเล่นเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์นี้มากขึ้นเรื่อยๆกว่าเดิม
สรุปว่า เหตุผลที่พวกเราได้ชูมาข้างต้น ก็คงจะช่วยให้ผู้เล่นเกมสามารถเข้ามาสนุกสนานกับเกมคาสิโนออนไลน์ สล็อตpussy888 มิได้มากมายก็น้อย ซึ่งถ้าเกิดคุณพอใจ หรือปรารถนาที่จะเข้ามาสมัครเพื่อเล่นเกมสล็อตpussy888 กับพวกเรา ก็ทดลองติดต่อ ไต่ถาม หรือแอดไลน์ไปที่เว็บไซต์คาสิโนออนไลน์ของพวกเราได้เลยตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง

Alandre said...

I'm someone who has lived a life seemingly in the background, I must say this final indignity I have suffered almost too much to endure. You see, I have been sickly and weak since the day I was born and doomed to go through all my life a weakling. I seemed to have always suffered from one illness or another and could never play with the other children as I so desperately wanted to. Mother always made such a big fuss over me, also, making the situation worse as the other boys teased me mercilessly after they saw it. I was browsing  the internet searching on how i could be transformed into a powerful when i came across the email of a man named Lord Mark. who was a VAMPIRE so I told him that I has always dreamed of becoming a  VAMPIRES, All i did was just to follow the procedure that i was been told, and i bet you that procedure I took change my entire life to something i ever desire, freedom, sickness free, pains free, fame, influence, connections and even more that i can. Thanks to Lord Mark. Do you want a life full of interesting things? Do you want to have power and influence over others? To be charming and desirable? To have wealth, health, and longevity? contact the vampires creed today via email: Vampirelord7878@gmail.com

Darlene Treger said...

HERBAL DR EMU WHO PREPARE HERBAL MEDICINE TO CURE ALL KINDS OF DISEASES INCLUDING HERPES DISEASE.   
 I have been battling this Herpes disease for almost 3 years now....I tried all possible means to get cure from my Herpes Disease but all to be in vain until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal Dr Emu who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases including Herpes Disease, at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try...when i contact Dr Emu via his email (emutemple@gmail.com)  write him and reply me explain how the process work so after ordering for the medicine I got it within 3/4 working days through DHL Delivery and I took it according to the way Dr Emu instructed, I was so happy after 2 week I took the medicine there was very big change in my health when I was done with the process I go for test, I found out I am negative...Herpes patients should also get in touch with this herbalist Dr Emu to get rid of these Herpes Virus forever his whatsapp number +2347012841542.