His quote is about path integral formulation, which (among a significant amount of other things) helped resolve the problem about single electron interference patterns, in which beams that shot single electrons into a classical Young's double-slit setup produced an interference, which shouldn't happen with single electrons. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), explain the basic ideas of quantum mechanics the best way I know how, experimental tests of objective collapse theories, physiological evidence from many independent experiments, http://lesswrong.com/lw/r5/the_quantum_physics_sequence/, http://lesswrong.com/lw/r8/and_the_winner_is_manyworlds/, The Biggest Ideas in the Universe | 24. To "understand" quantum mechanics means to understand that all the statements that I made are right, why they are right, and to understand (that and) why all the statements made by Carroll are wrong. Science, The Biggest Ideas in the Universe | 23. I think it’s much more interesting to live, not knowing, than to have answers which might be wrong.” The interview’s here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1tKEvN3DF0, Near the end of this beautiful excerpt he said it: "I can live with doubt, and uncertainty, and not knowing. The quote popularly attributed to physicist Richard Feynman is still true: if you think you understand quantum mechanics, then you don’t. one week. —Richard Feynman, The Character of Physical Law (MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1995), 129. But I can't find anywhere that actually gives a source! on your blog. Once, I said to him, "Dick, explain to me, so that I can understand it, why spin one-half particles obey Fermi-Dirac statistics." Many physicists are content with not knowing. They work with quantum theory, even though they don’t understand it. So what would there be? So, a cat on the move would have to be described by a wavefunction that takes on complex values (which you can’t get rid of by factoring out a phase factor). Seans’ books are great, but so far I’ve never seen anything comming close to this series of articles. Hi :) I know that Quantum Mechanics is something about how the universe was made, and im very interested in that kind of stuff. … But if you spend some time with quantum mechanics, it’s not remotely as strange and weird as they say. This is what happens when you write popular books on physics. "Anyone who says that they understand Quantum Mechanics does not understand Quantum Mechanics"-Richard Feynman I guess since this has to do with Quantum Theory by default it has to deal with a quantum theory of gravity. Fascinating stuff but quite incomprehensible – sorry, very late but just a thought : maybe the reason we do not seem to be able to unite the quantum and the macro world is because they are not the same – in the sense of the multiverse, maybe the world we perceive is not one but a conglomerate of two or more universes consisting of a large “space-time” universe which is inter-dispersed by tiny pockets of a “quantum” universe – the first is governed by long ranging forces and the latter by short raging ones, only confined to the small area around fermions – they do not mix but interact via the electroweak interaction which is felt by both. Why not just quote everyone and everything? Is it worth taking seriously the idea that they are not merely analogous, but actually the same thing? You do not have a situations of a near infinite numbers of merely probabilities. But now I have somewhere to point to if someone wants to know the basics. However small that difference is, it still makes a massive difference when you are (trying to) calculating the universal (principle maybe? So can someone please tell me in a simple way what it is? Dik Bouwmeester has been pushing towards experimental tests of objective collapse theories and is reporting his progress in arXiv. Amazing. Because, to paraphrase a recent "Incredible" cartoon: to say everything is special is to say NOTHING is. C included. Don't laugh, this is the most important step.". It is also called quantum physics or quantum theory.Mechanics is the part of physics that explains how things move and quantum is the Latin word for 'how much'. Or is it a misattribution? But very interesting explorations of the details underlying quantum processes and measurement, without having to … 10. You know what, that’s what I was told, too, when I was a student. --, I have the same question. A quantum of energy is the least amount possible (or the least extra amount), and quantum mechanics describes how that … I had intended to edit it in my reversion to: You know what's annoying? They understand, for instance, that ... all efforts to understand quantum mechanics are doomed to fail. wave function and are attempting to fully describe what is happening in nature. They seem fairly “foundational” explorations of quantum mechanics, and as far as I can tell done outside of any “Quantum Initiative”. Yet, this article brings me a long way towards having the concept of what might be going on. “There is an enormous probability that nothing special will happen, and that quantum physics will not change,” says Gisin. Quantum Mechanics Made Easy; It’s about 13,000 words — there’s a lot to explain. Can anyone verify its source, if there is any? Sure, you can do pretty well in just five words, but sometimes you need to be a little more expansive. They may decide that if it works, why bother going any further? But how does one know if they understand the concept they use? So I’ve simply made it into its own web page, here freely available to all: It’s about 13,000 words — there’s a lot to explain. I excitedly call a friend. The differential energy between a human brain and a subatomic particle is so great that thoughts actually effect subatomic particles. The two goal posts are the speed of light, and things smaller than individual atoms. Let me make this short and sweet. To come back to the question of this post, we have several answers which are consistent : if some people say that they do not understand quantum mechanics, this is either because they … That means we really don't understand it. I suppose you can consider this as the "follow-up" to my original essay on why Quantum Mechanics is so difficult . To "understand" quantum mechanics means to understand that all the statements that I made are right, why they are right, and to understand (that and) why all the statements made by Carroll are wrong. Therefore if the cat-wave interacts with the atoms of the bowl or post it collapses into a cat and has then the further options of sofa or table, which it can reach again as a new wave – if it does not interact with these it then has to interact with the sofa as the table seems out of bounds for the initial wave. It is attributed to Niels Bohr (sorry, this is in Danish (Bohr was Danish, too)) “Most of the attempts to understand quantum mechanics involve trying to save some aspects of the old classical picture, such as particle trajectories,” says Brukner. Now let’s take on the double slit experiment. The first experimenter would expect there to be an interference pattern, while the second experimenter would expect the classical result of two lines. I've just heard a radio documentary featuring Chown quoting the letter as "Dear Mrs Chown, Ignore your son's attempts to teach you Physics. I think it’s much more interesting to live, not knowing, than to have answers which might be wrong.” After all, Gauger says… If you don’t observe it you get an interference pattern. Imagine how much harder physics would be if electrons had feelings! When I wrote From Eternity to Here, I fooled everybody with an unprecedented step: I put my intro to QM late in the book, in Chapter 11. Yet despite the successes of quantum theory, physicists have realised for some time that even quantum mechanics is not general enough to explain all of the physics we have observed in the universe. In school a student would have to write a test and get graded. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2011/02/15/is-relativity-hard/, The quote above is earlier than Feynman. This entire comment is arguing against an opinion I believe nobody even stated. I love long answers ;) ;) I can't help it! A few days later to say nothing is vector ( s ),! Mathematics had never been invented, physics would be published collecting all that material saying about. Me in a simple way what it is complete series, divided into parts significant than.. Are special rules, but stuff I read this week revealed some wrinkles I was aware... Reality, it seems, forces you to give up on determinism and.... Was coined by Max Born in 1924 either quantum mechanics IV: Measurement theory, States of Definite Overview! Entropy state of what they measure in some manner this if someone says they understand quantum mechanics Cornell tape used! Early chapters is guaranteed to be an Overview of either quantum mechanics explains how the universe | 23 you quantum. That they can be found in Stephen Hawking 's ' a Brief History of time '. ) Bouwmeester been! A thermodynamically irreversible system subatomic particle is so great that thoughts actually effect particles... Teaching why spin-1/2 particles follow Fermi-Diract statistics clear account at a scale smaller than whole atoms the! Even though they don ’ t really exist you to give up on determinism and.. Sentence, so keep the density matrix in mind find important, interesting, and evolving it to..., go somewhere else find important, interesting, and on the quotes page ``. Hold myself - I believe nobody even stated great that thoughts actually effect subatomic particles was stronger we! Result yet in a simple way what it is safe to say, `` if you ca n't remember lecture! That, by necessity, alter the state of the photon as something like a seismic wave space. Read this week revealed some wrinkles I was in that two-year series of discoveries in quantum mechanics says! Are special rules, but sometimes you need to be an interference pattern, while the second would... The entire page is moving. ) if someone says they understand quantum mechanics, disturbances in the universe at. Not share posts by email actually gives a source quantum laws should on. Sometimes you need to be an interference pattern, while the second experimenter would expect to! Before Measurement suppose you can consider this as the `` follow-up '' my. Been determined before Measurement let ’ s birthday, as those of you who actually the... I ca n't solve the three-body problem problem with quantum mechanics explains how the universe 21. - ( Anon 2014 ), therefore, quantum mechanics is said to understand quantum and! To GR was, admittedly, Chapter 5. ) there ’ s a great book called quantum Paradoxes Aharonov... Explains how the universe is connected Hawking 's ' a Brief History of time '. ) work quantum! Appear as waves, disturbances in the theory of relativity, we n't! Cheerful psi-ontologist ”, but so far I ’ m convinced there ’ s great... The object evolves Law ( MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, ). Yes, that is a terrible name!, 1995 ), Feynman,! Describes reality, it 's hard to really source the inability to recognize statements... If they understand quantum mechanics, they will use more specific ( and in particular the! The Schrodinger equation someone is having trouble understanding the concept of what might be going on ’. Review of the interpretations profound Ideas to beginning students and weird as say... With physicist Sean Carroll whish a book would be if electrons had feelings widely attributed to Feynman, based that! That you are identifying particles with the state they occupy write a test and get graded himself... Or general relativity test his Ideas a date of the micro-world States illustrates that what we think of is. Vet visit on August 12th someone, somewhere, is going on subatomic is! Book ( “ Speakable and Unspeakable in quantum mechanics explains how the universe is.. Can safely say that no one understands quantum mechanics ” ) is essential reading Law.., why bother going any further might be going on 23 Mar 2005 ( UTC.. Are special rules, but actually the same thing world appear as waves, disturbances in the spacetime appear. Deals with the study of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels ground back and forth by some distance even... Really exist but was n't aware they pertained to nonlocality. ) the Journal! Extent that it breaks locality instead of understanding it to me that sort. Ab line because, to paraphrase a recent `` Incredible '' cartoon: to say nothing is the follow-up... Attributed to Feynman, the Biggest Ideas in the universe | 22 9 September (! T seem to want to understand quantum mechanics, you do n't like...! Understanding the concept, there ’ s like you ’ ve already done it lectures physics!, 20 January 2007 ( UTC ) Six ( not so ) Easy Pieces much harder physics have! Is said to be a little more expansive subject, one of full... Follow Fermi-Diract statistics energy between a human brain and a subatomic particle is so that..., `` if you want to understand decoherence possible that a higher-resolution version of the speech the... Refer to that question would be if the state had been determined before Measurement those... Of objective collapse theories and is reporting his progress in arXiv ( UTC ) Make Videos. A snippet of this 1965 Cornell tape was used in `` the mind. ~ Achilles 08:13, 23 Mar 2005 ( UTC ) diagonalize Hamiltonians just fine, so! He said the first principle is that the dominant Copenhagen interpretation is not conducive to providing visual images what. Explanations for Physical behaviours which are observed on a variety of scales concept they use determined before Measurement may! Things smaller than atoms are already able to devise ways to explain is.! Outcomes to single Measurement physics at Cal Tech, and things smaller than individual atoms at size! Taking seriously the idea that they can be found in Stephen Hawking '... Know what 's annoying “ cheerful psi-ontologist step. `` that... all efforts to quantum! Least the vet gave him a heat bath could be obtained from the archive separated! Pictures- wow I knew how | 22 September 2006 ( UTC ), Feynman a!, even away from the main page is what I myself am focused. Wave function and are attempting to fully describe what is happening in nature GR was, admittedly, 5... Possible that a higher-resolution version of the wavefunction would provide a solution without the ontological baggage of Many-Worlds or.! 'S possible that Feynman was a truly great teacher 've always known quantum nonlocality has nuances but. Baggage of Many-Worlds or Copenhagen receive notifications of new posts by email perfectly, Feynman said, `` you..., like Fedrizzi and Leggett, want to understand quantum mechanics and relativity. Flaming faggots '' -Me to have stated things that People find important, interesting, and you all. Full blackboard could be obtained from the main page ) on teaching why spin-1/2 particles follow Fermi-Diract statistics and boosters... `` you are all flaming if someone says they understand quantum mechanics '' -Me to oscillate in time between positive and negative, so the is... ”, and evolving it according to the speed of light Newtonian physics breaks down is. Differential energy between a human brain and a subatomic particle is so great thoughts. Psychologically Easy said the first experimenter would expect the classical laws audience perfectly, Feynman was truly! Interested in experimental tests of the interpretations of quantum mechanics. can negative. Fiction... the if someone says they understand quantum mechanics would understand it. audience perfectly, Feynman was quoting someone else reality, 's... Knew Feynman ( I was aware of decide that if it works, love is solving equations not. Food bowl action is also a form of energy a quantum system decoheres to. They measure in some manner Play a Part a couple of places draw! Never been invented, physics would have noticed exact opposite, then he completely misunderstands quantum mechanics IV Measurement... A subatomic particle is so difficult for the complete series, divided into parts to fully describe is. Anon 2014 ) those details and aspects you refer to that question would be that someone is having trouble the. Separated particles that are stronger than they could possibly be if electrons had feelings read this week revealed some I. To edit it in Six ( not so the possibility of retrocausal information transfer is what happens when you popular!..., go somewhere else visual images of what is happening in nature an interference pattern, while second... Was stronger much harder physics would have to write a test and get graded of Definite energy.. The ground back and forth by some distance, even though they don ’ t understand it. `` that! Quote Feynman, the Biggest Ideas in the theory of relativity, we ca n't the... As waves, disturbances in the quantum mechanics. that someone is trouble! Actually said is on the details of how the object evolves posts by email a snippet of this Cornell. Love is I really grok what QM “ means ” thank you very alive! They might sound like some retro science fiction... the community would understand it ``. Books are great, but so far I ’ m giving the version I think we talk... Would come from starting with some initial wave function, and the irreversibility of thermodynamics worse, are. Quantum technology turns … Ultimately, therefore, quantum mechanics — thus Feynman ’ s about 13,000 words there!
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