torsdag 24 april 2014

Quantum Mechanics as Gift from God More Intelligent than Man


  • Quantum mechanics is, with relativity, the essence of the big conceptual revolution of the physics of the 20th century. 
  • Now, do we really understand quantum mechanics? 
  • It is probably safe to say that we understand its machinery pretty well; in other words, we know how to use its formalism to make predictions in an extremely large number of situations, even in cases that may be very intricate. 
  • Heinrich Hertz, who played such a crucial role in the understanding of electromagnetic waves in the 19th century (Hertzian waves), remarked that, sometimes, the equations in physics are “more intelligent than the person who invented them” [182]. 
  • The remark certainly applies to the equations of quantum mechanics, in particular to the Schrödinger equation, or to the superposition principle: they contain probably much more substance that any of their inventors thought, for instance in terms of unexpected types of correlations, entanglement, etc. 
  • It is astonishing to see that, in all known cases, the equations have always predicted exactly the correct results, even when they looked completely counter-intuitive. 
  • Conceptually, the situation is less clear. 
  • Nevertheless, among all intellectual constructions of the human mind, quantum mechanics may be the most successful of all theories since, despite all efforts of physicists to find its limits of validity (as they do for all physical theories), and many sorts of speculation, no one for the moment has yet been able to obtain clear evidence that they even exist. Future will tell us if this is the case; surprises are always possible!
Laloe illuminates the fact that modern physicists (and nobody else) do not understand the modern physics of quantum mechanics, and do not even pretend to do so,  as a conceptual revolution away from classical physics based on understanding. The argument is that the linear Schrödinger equation must be more intelligent than Schrödinger, since Schrödinger admittedly could not understand it and nobody else has ever claimed to understand it either. 

If the difference between science and religion is that science is all about understanding, while religion leaves understanding to divinity, modern physics appears to be more religion than science.

But it is hard to understand that an equation that cannot be solved, always predicts exactly the correct results! It is more easy to believe that any observation made can be claimed to fit exactly with the equation, since checking is impossible. It would be more convincing if observation was somewhat different from theory.

1 kommentar:

  1. Some aspects of quantum mechanics are often quoted in climate discussions, but the real issue there is thermodynamics ... please read ....

    http://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/news/read/27010277/Why_It%E2%80%99s_Not_Carbon_Dioxide

    SvaraRadera