nature.com— How does our classical world emerge from the counterintuitive principles of quantum theory? Can we even be sure that the world doesn't 'go quantum' when no one is watching?
Apr 30, 2008View in Crawl 4
The superposition is real, otherwise you couldn't get interference effects. And every state is a superposition of states in another basis. This is relative.And as for your second paragraph: pure states in quantum mechanics are not restricted by the HUP as they reside in Hilbert space and not, as is classically, in phase space. It is phase space information that is restricted by the HUP. Though this is a wave property and not an necessarily a property of indeterminism.
I used to live with a physics major, and he had this quote that he loved. I can't remember who coined it, but it was something to the effect of, "We are coming to realize that its not that our theories were impossible, its that we exist in a very strange place."
Note: When I say bound particles act as a whole: I'm talking at the subatomic level. Three quarks in a proton are at 'rest' relative to one another, so exist in simulataneous superposition. Neutrons and protons exist at rest relative to one another, so that the nucleus exists in a single quantum state. When you scale up, however, even the atoms held by chemical bonds have relative velocity to one another (temperature). As a result, macroscopic matter doesn't exist in quantum states - unless you cool them far enough. At this point, you have Bose-Einstien Condensates.At least, that's what I think.
ericmiiierMay 1, 2008
and you're and idiot, so whats your point?
jigorokanoMay 1, 2008
The superposition is real, otherwise you couldn't get interference effects. And every state is a superposition of states in another basis. This is relative.And as for your second paragraph: pure states in quantum mechanics are not restricted by the HUP as they reside in Hilbert space and not, as is classically, in phase space. It is phase space information that is restricted by the HUP. Though this is a wave property and not an necessarily a property of indeterminism.
jigorokanoMay 1, 2008
You wouldn't have a personal computer if it weren't for quantum mechanics.Is that point enough?
shuukyokuMay 1, 2008
I used to live with a physics major, and he had this quote that he loved. I can't remember who coined it, but it was something to the effect of, "We are coming to realize that its not that our theories were impossible, its that we exist in a very strange place."
fordiMay 2, 2008
Note: When I say bound particles act as a whole: I'm talking at the subatomic level. Three quarks in a proton are at 'rest' relative to one another, so exist in simulataneous superposition. Neutrons and protons exist at rest relative to one another, so that the nucleus exists in a single quantum state. When you scale up, however, even the atoms held by chemical bonds have relative velocity to one another (temperature). As a result, macroscopic matter doesn't exist in quantum states - unless you cool them far enough. At this point, you have Bose-Einstien Condensates.At least, that's what I think.
fordiMay 2, 2008
I'm wrong, then. thank you.