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Author Topic:   Does What the Bleep Do We Know have any close cousins?
greentwiga
Member (Idle past 3454 days)
Posts: 213
From: Santa
Joined: 06-05-2009


Message 10 of 24 (513789)
07-01-2009 4:38 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by NosyNed
07-01-2009 2:14 PM


Re: Observations
The double slit experiment has some interesting effects. Einstein looked at them and refused to go where the ideas were leading, famously saying "God doesn't play dice with the universe. The Experiments take either a particle or light wave packet so lets use an electron. Shining a beam of electrons at a single slit produces a uniform spreading pattern. shining the beam at a double slit produces an interference pattern just like light does. So far, that means that one electron goes through one slit and another goes through the other slit and the electrons wave patterns either constructively add or destructively cancel each other. A sensor placed at one of the "dark" bands would not even register an electron.
So far, there is no real problem. Now, slow down the electrons so that only one electron per second is going through the either one slit or the other. Place one sensor behind each slit and they will register the occasional electron going through only one slit, but never both. Now remove the sensors, and the interference pattern reappears. The electron is now going through both slits at once. Einstein developed a thought experiment. A galaxy 10 billion light years away is sending light our way but it passes another galaxy 5 billion light years away that splits the light into two crescents, one on either side of the middle galaxy. This is like the two slits. Sensors aimed at either crescent will register photons, proving that the photon went around either the right side or the left side of the galaxy. Without the detectors, but with a plate to register interference, even if there is only one photon arriving per second, interference will occur, showing that the photon went around both sides of the galaxy at once. Thus, the method of detection forces the photon to go back 5 billion years to decide whether to go around one side or both sides of the galaxy. This has been called spooky action at a distance.
So far, though weird, this is known and OK. If I read the original post right, he was saying that this was communication or thought and a sign of intelligence. It is neither, but just a product of quantum mechanics and something that people deep into string theory are trying to make a better mathematical model for.
Oh, as a sidelight, I am starting a campaign to reunite Gondwanaland. Anyone want to join my cause?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by NosyNed, posted 07-01-2009 2:14 PM NosyNed has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by Purpledbear, posted 07-01-2009 5:36 PM greentwiga has not replied

  
greentwiga
Member (Idle past 3454 days)
Posts: 213
From: Santa
Joined: 06-05-2009


Message 20 of 24 (513828)
07-01-2009 8:26 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by Purpledbear
07-01-2009 5:53 PM


Re: I got it!
If you and I don't understand the whole thing well, we are in good company. Einstein didn't understand it well either. I accept what is and wait for another to develop a unified theory to explain it scientifically/mathematically. Your analogy looks helpful but expect some PhD to say pendantically, "that is not it at all." LOL
Vote to legalize safe sex marriage.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by Purpledbear, posted 07-01-2009 5:53 PM Purpledbear has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 21 by Purpledbear, posted 07-01-2009 8:47 PM greentwiga has replied

  
greentwiga
Member (Idle past 3454 days)
Posts: 213
From: Santa
Joined: 06-05-2009


Message 22 of 24 (513833)
07-01-2009 9:40 PM
Reply to: Message 21 by Purpledbear
07-01-2009 8:47 PM


Re: I got it!
You got it good enough.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 21 by Purpledbear, posted 07-01-2009 8:47 PM Purpledbear has not replied

  
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