Quantum Theory

In your opinion, which of the various interpretations for quantum mechanics out there do you think is the correct stance? For those of you who don't know, there are many interpretations of the theory, due to the fact that nobody can make much sense out of the experimental outcomes. As it is completely different from everyday perspective and defies all common sense, various groups of people interpret the theory differently. But anyways, here are some of the best known ones: 1. The Copenhagen Interpretation 2. Many Worlds 3. Anthropic Principle I personally take the Copenhagen Interpretation as the best one, and indeed it is the standard view of today's scie…

Does anyone know how to prove whether or not two particles in s spin-singlet state of a spin 1/2-system remain in a tangled state after a measurement of the spin of one of the particles is made? Thanks Pete

In a recent SciAm article (last month, I think) there was an article on geo-engineering. One proposal was to use perforated disks of a clear material arranged in a cloud between the earth and the sun. The premise was that light passing through the perforations would travel slightly faster than light passing through the disk material. The light would then destructively interfere on the other side, thereby reducing the amount of light falling on the Earth. My question is: What happens to the energy carried by the light? It obviously can't be destroyed, but where does it go?

pretty dumb question but what exactly is the quantum theory

I would like to ask the following question: I have read in more than one texts that the silver atom, in its ground state, posseses 47 electrons, 46 of which are in sphericaly symmetric distribution around the nucleus, and the 47th. posseses the outermost orbit in a 5s state (orbital angular momentum [math]l=0[/math]). Hence - the texts read - the ground state silver atom posseses a total orbital angular momentum [math]\vec{L}=0[/math]. The Stern - Gerlach experiment, which proved the existence of electron spin, was based on this very fact. My question is: Why is it that the total (orbital) angular momentum of the silver atom is that of its 47th. outermost electron? Wh…

I am really having trouble with understanding the experiment John Bell proposed to prove that the (spin) of one of the entangled particle pairs was indeed undecided until the moment the others orientation was measured. This is how I understand it so far.... Two particles are created from a particle with spin 0, the particles need to have opposite spins to cancel out so as to conserve overall spin value. Both particles are sent in opposite directions, even miles away. The spin of one of the particles is measured and so the spin of the other particle is known because it has to have opposite spin. Einstein used this experiment to demonstrate that the spin of both particle…

Hi all, I must admit I'm a newbie in quantum physics. But I would like to know a little bit more about the EPR paradox. I mean, I've found quite surprising the possibility of transmitting information without transferring mass and energy, just considering quantum entanglement. Thanks you all,

Hi all, new guy here. My first post (how exciting!)... Like to get an opinion about the following: "Classical" quantum mechanics states that all possibilities exist until the event is observed, then all probability curves drop to 0 except for the 1 that "becomes" the event (a la schroedingers cat...The cat is dead or alive when you open the box, before that it is both dead and alive). My question is: Once observed one of the possibilities has dropped to zero and the other becomes one. However, since we are in a universe that has a "history" the fact that at one point in time both possibilities existed is a fact and can't be erased... Therefore, if the cat …

I fail too understand what properties of Nature are responsible for getting particles (representing energy) out of a local energy state minimum to an absolute energy state minimum. Perhaps it is not fair to demand an explanation of the ways of Nature. In that case, what logic explains the act of tunnelling through a potential barrier without having the energy to do so. Are the responsable mechanics related to the spontaneous nature of atom emissions and absorbsions? Where does the lost energy go?

is there an actual physicist in here i could pose some questions to? that would be realy cool

I know quantum mechanics is supposed to be non-deterministic. Also, many call time a dimension. However, I think these are contradictory ideas. For time to be a dimension, it would seem to me that the future would have to be predetermined rather than made up as we go. What do you folks think?

I'm having trouble understanding a basic concept of quantum theory, in particular the uncertainty principle: why does when one tries to figure out the mass of a particle is one not then able to find the velocity or likewise?

Can the fine structure constant also be considered a conversion factor between free vacuum impedance, and the fractional quantum hall effect with a filling factor of (1/2)?

can anyone plz proof this for me using heisenberg uncertainity priciple , i need to give a presentation!!:-(:-(

ABSTRACT Parity no conservation in the  decay processes is considered as fundamental property of weak interactions. Nevertheless, this property can be treated as anomaly, because in fundamental interactions of the rest types parity is conserved. Analogously, anomaly in the short-duration strong-current pulse discharges is well known. The essence of this phenomenon consists in generation of local high-temperature plasma formations with the typical values of its thermo dynamical parameters exceeding those related to the central section of a discharge. In this paper, an attempt is undertaken to treat these anomalies as manifestation of fundamental properties of gravitat…

http://www.physorg.com/news151164690.html

We cannot attain 100% monochromatic light because of heisenberg uncertainity principle.even a laser source doesn't have one wavelength although the bandwidth may be small instead. can someone plz explain me why does it happen??: doh:

First, an overview of my position, not yet climactic: ABSTRACT- Roger Penrose's "Road to Reality"(1) has a last line, "....perhaps, something that we all have missed?". This is motivation for revisiting panpsychism, an ancient theory that suggests all things have awareness and/or consciousness. With a recent paper(3) reporting increased attention to this subject (4,5), can a physicalist approach be fruitful? . Given that light requires mass to validate its existence and mass requires time to prove likewise, might these requirements suggest a basic "need" for all creatures? With life defined as a simple "awareness", that is, between self and otherness, observed and ob…

Stanford has some online Quantum Mechanics lectures. Anyone else want to share some online lectures?

I have dose some research on string theory and particle accelerators and The theory of everything. Unfortunately after doing so i found that i had used up all the space i had left up in my brain. so here is my dilemma i would like to know exactly what it is that will occur when the LHC comes back on line. After sends particles whirling at each other and then eventually smashing into one another creating tiny explosions. And after we collect the data from theses explosions. what exactly are they looking to discover that will "Hopefully" Make super string theory or M theory or whatever is the new theory on the block at the time, a viable and solution for th…

The string theory is interesting, if it is true, how do we prove it. How many dimensions are out there.

Found this video after i heard about it on NPR's science Friday, its an informative LHC Rap thought some of you may enjoy. http://life.calit2.net/archives/2008/08/the-cern-large-hydron-collider.php

Do electrons 'actually' orbit the nucleus or is it, as someone has suggested, simply a probability density function?

Is there anything to prevent two photons from combining to form a photon with energy equal to the sum of their energies? Is there anything preventing a photon from splitting into two photons who's sum is of equal energy? I know both of these cases can happen if the photon is absorbed and then re-emitted, but what prevents it from happening in a vacuum?

Between decay and Annihilation.