Re:Many Lives in Many Worlds
by Xcelerate on Tuesday April 12, 2016 @08:10PM
(#11484681)
The interpretation I prefer: the universal quantum state evolves unitarily at all times, and there are no parallel universes. Problem solved. Parallel universes are — by definition — unfalsifiable, so the best theory then is the simplest one, and that is a theory with one universe.
Re:Many Lives in Many Worlds
by pjdorrell on Wednesday April 13, 2016 @10:04PM
(#11493844)
In the context of Many Worlds, a "universe" is an approximately classical wave function, where the degree of approximation is limited by the uncertainty principle.
Even if you start with an approximately classical wave function, it may evolve into a state where it is no longer approximately classical. However, it might now be equal to the sum of _two_ approximately classical wave functions. Ie, two "universes".
So, the universal wave function hasn't split, but the attempt to represent that wave function by approximately classical wave functions _has_ split.
Re:Many Lives in Many Worlds
by Xcelerate on Thursday April 14, 2016 @12:04AM
(#11494224)
> but the attempt to represent that wave function by approximately classical wave functions _has_ split.
Exactly. The problem is that people keep trying to view quantum physics through a classical lens.
Decoherence is simply the fact that a quantum state evolves to a point where it can no longer be mathematically represented as a tensor product state. I don't lose any sleep over that.
Re:Many Lives in Many Worlds
by ZeroGravitas on Wednesday April 13, 2016 @02:25AM
(#11486155)
There's a BBC documentary about this, also created for the 50th anniversary, starring his son, who happens to be a semi-famous singer-songwriter with the band Eels:
Re:Many Lives in Many Worlds
by moonfern on Tuesday April 12, 2016 @04:51PM
(#11483474)
If your browser support the no page style you can use that.
But what you see, is perhaps the effects of popup. It's on the lower right side, maybe pressing escape works. (it does on linux.
For similar reasoning used in a somewhat different scenario, see also http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spacetime-holearg/
See http://space.mit.edu/home/tegmark/PDF/multiverse_sciam.pdf and the excerpt quoted in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse#Occam.27s_Razor
Even if you start with an approximately classical wave function, it may evolve into a state where it is no longer approximately classical. However, it might now be equal to the sum of _two_ approximately classical wave functions. Ie, two "universes".
So, the universal wave function hasn't split, but the attempt to represent that wave function by approximately classical wave functions _has_ split.
Exactly. The problem is that people keep trying to view quantum physics through a classical lens.
Decoherence is simply the fact that a quantum state evolves to a point where it can no longer be mathematically represented as a tensor product state. I don't lose any sleep over that.
What does that mean in layman's terms? Is that basically the Copenhagen interpretation (which has its own issues)
http://eelstheband.com/parallel_worlds.php
It's available in full on Vimeo and embedded at the bottom of the above page.