Why quantum physics is freaky.
I don't usually blog much. I'm too busy chasing shinny objects, which is why I only have 26 posts on my WA website after 6 months. But since I just recveived my 6 month badge and Joe Joson just did an excellent blog on quantum physics I thought I'd add to that info a little. Needless to say, although I'm not a big blogger, I thoroughly enjoy reading everything you guys and gals write on a regular basis!
Quantum physics is freaky because it defies what we see in everyday life. Lets look at two properties of quantum physics, quantum superpostion and quantum entanglement.
Quantum Superposition - Powering the computers of the future
Quantum superposition is the ability for a particle or sub particle to be in any of two possible states simultaneously. This quantum-mechanical anomaly was initially predicted by certain inconsistencies in wave mechanics (all matter can be mathematically described as both a particle and a wave). Erwin Schrodinger came up with an interesting analogy to make quantum superposition more palatable for those that wanted a somewhat practical explanation.
Check out the "Schrodinger's Cat" thought experiment on Wikipedia. The basic concept here is that the cat is BOTH alive AND dead until it is actually observed by opening the box. So, the cat is in quantum superposition (alive & dead), and then "quantum decoherence" occurs and it "chooses" to be EITHER alive or dead, during which point the observer will find note the final outcome. The observer never sees the cat as being both alive and dead because of many things, including the speed at which quantum decoherence occurs.
Quantum computers, unlike classical computers (which use a binary bit system of 0 or 1), have a 3 qubit state ( 0, 1, 0 and 1 simultaneously). This is what makes them so powerful and able to do calculations up to ten thousand times faster than the computers we use today. The Canadian company "D Wave" makes and sells quantum computers (check it out)! They are very big, expensive, and not practical because of the temperature and magnetic constraints they require to maintain quantum superposition.
Quantum Entanglement - "spooky action at a distance"
Quantum entanglement is even more bizzare. It is the ability of two "entangled" particles (like two photons) to independently pass information about the quantum state of their physical parameters like spin or angular momentum to each other. The information can be passed accuately between two entangled particles, even if they are seperated by great distances. In 2017 scientists in China sent entangled quantum information a distance of over 1,200 kilometers between Earth and satellites. Einstein called quantum entanglement "spooky action at a distance". We have not been able to measure the speed at which entangled particles can pass information but it might only be able to be measured in a quantum frame of reference. This means that it may not be directly comparable to the speed of light in a vacuum, which is pretty quick at about 186,000 miles/second ! What if entangled photons could pass information to protons that are in quantum superposition? Are you freaked out yet? Even if you're not, I think I'll stop here (for now).
Why is all this important to us at WA? It's not really. It's just too off-the-wall not to be interesting and I'm toying with the idea of starting a quantum physics site. The real question is what could I possibly sell there. What do mathematics and physics nerds buy? I can't sell cyclotrons or entangled photons. Please help with suggestions!
Frank
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I think my brain is just too finite for all this. We probably have to get outside of our own head somehow to grok it.
I was in a conversation only last night about how, in my view, everything ultimately comes from the unity of truth and light.
Hi John,
This stuff only really makes sense mathematically, but it's fun to think about when you've got nothing better to do. :-)
Interesting how you connect truth and light, since light is an electromagnetic wave with particles (photons) in the energy spectrum that stimulates the cells in the retinas of our eyes. If truth is somehow manifested in our brain waves (also electromagnetic) then you have caused me to wonder if there might be a measurable physical correlation between the two of them. :-))
Thanks for the stimulating conversation!
Frank
You certainly know a lot about it. You could defintely sell books, encyclopedias. Gadgets or even tshirts/ accesories things like that. Fans would like stuff like that. Let us know how you get on. Thanks.
Hi Farah,
Thanks for the info! All good ideas. I bet that tshirts, hats, mugs and other wearable items would sell well.
Frank
Quantum computing is one of my shiny things. I've delved into this and have become bewildered and befuddled, and thoroughly entertained. What would they buy? Why, Unobtainium, of course. If the afore mentioned Unobtainium is slightly out of the sellers ability to produce, then perhaps eBooks on the subject would suffice. Good article my friend. Right, back to work untangling string theory.
Greg
Thanks, Greg!
If you are referring to Unobtainium from the movie Avatar, then you should also see another great movie and one of my favorites: "The Core" (2003 release).
P.S. I've moved on from string theory to superstring theory and now to quantum loop gravity :-)
Frank
Love this Frank. I find quantum physics so interesting, although I probably dont really understand a thing. Thought about a site too, when I was thinking about what interests me and what I'd like to learn more about. But you're right,what could you sell? Courses maybe. Or you could be the first affiliate for quantum computers. Anyway, if you do start thay site please keep me informed. I'd love to learn more about ot all. I've only got so far as schrodingers cat and the double split experiment as yet. Xxx
Thanks, Deb!
Yes, the double-slit experiment was the first way to demonstrate the concept of quantum superposition. I'm really impressed that you know about it, not many people do.
I work as a consultant in quantum blockchain for electronic health records so I am very involved in all the technical aspects.
Quantum computers sell for tens of millions of dollars, right now, so I doubt I'd be able to sell many :-) Most of the real info is published in physics journals but there are easy to understand books and e-books that one could sell online.
Google and Boeing are among the companies that have purchased one. I know that Boeing has been doing some design utilizing quantum tunneling. I think most companies will simply end up renting quantum co-processor time on-line to circumvent the costs of purchase and maintenance.
The two major players in quantum computer R&D are IBM and D Wave in Canada. If you go to D Wave's website you will learn tons of interesting stuff and see how big quantum computers actually are in size. This is to deal with temperature and magnetic constraints to prevent quantum decoherence during the annealing process.
Let's keep in touch about this!
Frank
Thanks Frank, I'll definitely take a look. Love learning about all this stuff.
Take care, Deb x
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Some day I might like to buy a Spooky2 Rife machine.
Royal Rife made the first one to zap cancer out of cancer patients, got to disclaimer! you know! I can pray it out of them with Heavenly Father doing the heavy lifting, and He gets ALL of the praise ad glory, and I go on to the next situation.
There is a yt channel, youtube, called Spooky2. Sometimes he gets too tech for me and my eyes glaze over! Ha Ha ha!
I love the story of Al Beliek, probably spelling that wrong on yt.
And includes Nicola Tesla, and Einstein One Stone, yes? Ein is one, stein is stone. Anyways, I think his Serbian wife was the brains of the outfit. They were all working for the gubermint, trying to make a ship go invisible.
Eventually, Tesla quit because he would not stand up for an experiment that killed test subjects as they reportedly were dead or dying and integrated into the metal of the ship when the experiment powered down. so when they were all ordered to repeat with few modifications using the remaining pool of human test subjects, Tesla bowed out, but Einstein did not.
Anyways you may like to listen to Al's story about all of this as it's quite interesting, Frank!
Your friend, Suzay