What is Reality? Quantum Mechanics (Part IV)
In this post, we will look at realism! Does Quantum Mechanics debunk Classical Physics?
What is Reality? Quantum Mechanics asks the science community new questions at every intersection we look at it.
This is the fourth part of my series.
Here are the goals of this series of posts:
1. Outline the major events that formed this branch of physics
2. Describe in, simple words, the fundamental main ideas of Quantum Mechanics (full focus)
3. Understand the essence of quantum computing
4. Understand aspects of current research into quantum technologies
Here’s an overview of my series of posts on Quantum Mechanics. I’ll publish these once a week beginning on the 12th of August.
1. The Historical Beginnings
2. James Bond teaches you uncertainty, entanglement, and interference
3. What is the probability that you’ll learn a bit about probability, quantum computing, qubit, polarization, and psi? 100%!
4. If Quantum Physics is Real, is Reality Real? What Jaden Smith didn’t tell you about the reality of our world (and the quantum physics of what’s real)
5. What is a quantum computer? A (fuller) introduction to Quantum Computing
6. Ongoing Quantum Research #1 (quantum semi-conductors and you)
QUANTUM MECHANICS PART IV
Correlations Revisited
We mentioned correlations in the context of flip flops. If you know that Ron has a certain flip flop, then Jeremy must also have the corresponding side of the flip flop. But let’s solidify the concept of correlations here.
A correlation is the tendency for something to be associated with something. For example, if I wear a clown outfit and people ask me consistently when I next perform my clown act — but then, when I don’t wear my clown outfit and I don’t get asked about my clown performances, I could reasonably say that “there is a correlation between what I wear and what people ask of me.”
And so here are some guiding logic questions: to what extent are physical events correlated? Or are they the result of randomness?
In science, we seek to understand the manual that determines what we are. With research into DNA, we understand that the basic blocks of our genetics is the genetic code made of repeating base pairs. With research into chemistry, we can understand the atoms that make up those base pairs. With research into the wonderful world of the quantum, we can understand the world of tiny particles, especially the particles that make up those atoms.
We have seen in our adventure through Quantum Mechanics so far that to understand something with a finer certainty, we lose information about that very observable particle (for example, the uncertainty rule states that there is a trade off uncertainty of measurement between a particle’s momentum and position). We understood that two particles, distances apart, can still simultaneously communicate through entanglement.
In addition, I present to you, the reader, a long understood idea in classical physics, which is that nothing can move faster than the speed of light. This is one of Einstein’s major findings. In the world of classical physics, nothing far away over there could influence something here faster than the speed of light.
In 1935, Einstein asked the question whether events are correlated by their nearby environment (this idea, in paraphrase, is the idea of the locality), or if, in the quantum mechanism, is determined by an action so far away.
Be James Bond’s Boss, M, for a second. Local realism is the idea that you, taking on the role of M trying to locate James Bond, can’t determine faster than the speed of light what James Bond does half way across the world (local) and that James’ properties (like his current position, speed) are definite even when you don’t call him to ask about his world (realism). Except for the idea applies to particles like photons and not international spies like James Bond.
In essence, after again looking at polarizations and spins, scientists (three major groups found in 2015) a loophole free proof that shows that local realism does not fit with quantum physics, and therefore, not applicable to our world.
Indeed, quantum entangled entities can influence each other faster than at the speed of light. And indeed, quantum entangled entities don’t have a definite properties or instructions for how they behave when they are observed.
Correlations aren’t local. Correlations can be connected through vast distances apart. Our universe and world is meant to be connected — not disenfranchised. Nature reminds us that despite distances apart, communication between particles is always possible and this breaks what we know about the idea that light is the speed limit for our universe.
So, if there’s anything to pick up on today’s article is this: build correlations with your neighboring friends and/or family (aka your fellow particles) and find out what there up to. You might not change their plans for the day, but at the very least, they will think of you and you will think of them. You will be correlated in a beautiful way that particles could only dream of. A rather wholesome note indeed!
This gives us thought provoking questions — what is at the fundamental core of instructions that quantum entities like photons (those “messengers” of light) have? Why is it that there are these correlations that make them entangled? And what correlations do we not know of yet and how does that affect the fundamentals of our daily life?
Some day, perhaps, we’ll be able to answer them.
