Can Multiple Universes Coexist and Interfere with Each Other?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of multiple universes and their potential coexistence and interference, particularly in the context of quantum mechanics and decoherence. Participants explore theoretical implications, experimental setups, and the nature of quantum states in relation to measurements and interference patterns.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that changes in a universe could lead to the formation of multiple universes, suggesting that interference might occur between closely related universes, particularly in quantum scenarios.
  • Another participant questions the feasibility of observing interference between decohered systems, stating that decoherence inherently leads to the loss of quantum interference.
  • A later reply challenges the notion that decoherence eliminates all interference, suggesting that while practical detection may be difficult, it is not theoretically impossible to detect interference between decohered systems.
  • One participant seeks clarification on the definition of decoherence, pondering whether a fractional loss of quantum information could still be classified as decoherence and inquiring about existing experiments on the completeness of decoherence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between decoherence and interference, with some asserting that decoherence precludes interference while others argue that interference may still exist but is difficult to detect. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the nature of decoherence and its implications for multiple universes.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of decoherence and interference, as well as the assumptions made about the nature of measurements in quantum mechanics. The practical challenges of detecting interference in decohered systems are also noted.

michael879
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I just had this thought about multiple universes. Basically any time something in a universe changes, it splits (or maybe not, doesn't really matter for this). If some random event occurs (truly random, like a double slit experiment) multiple universes are formed, 1 for each outcome. The more alike two universes are the closer they are and the closer they are the more they interfere with each other. So for example if you have an electron in an atom in a superposition between two states. Since there hasnt been any decoherence, the universes are exactly alike except for this electron's energy state. The second you make a measurement, the two universes are suddenly no longer differing in just the energy state of the electron, but in the measurement also and they become farther apart.

This is one of the current theories right? here's my thought:
there should still be small amounts of interference between the universes. Has anyone tried a double slit experiment with decoherence and tried to pick up interference patterns? wouldn't that prove or disprove this theory? if you make the "measurement" small enough maybe?

maybe the double slit is a bad example. If you make a quantum computer using non-reversible gates there is heat emitted from the gates causing decoherence of the qubits. The universes would still be almost identical in that case...
 
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michael879 said:
This is one of the current theories right? here's my thought:
there should still be small amounts of interference between the universes. Has anyone tried a double slit experiment with decoherence and tried to pick up interference patterns? wouldn't that prove or disprove this theory? if you make the "measurement" small enough maybe?

What you suggest is paradoxical, because decoherence is the process of losing quantum interference. So you can't have decoherence with interference... :wink:
 
kvantti said:
What you suggest is paradoxical, because decoherence is the process of losing quantum interference. So you can't have decoherence with interference... :wink:

that is the practical case- but we should be rigorous here- technically you should not say that there is no interference between decohered systems- rather that at this time it is too expensive to detect the interference between decohered systems-
 
so wait, did I get the multiple universe theory right? I filled in a bunch of holes in my knowledge while writing that. we call any loss decoherence.. if there was a fractional loss in which a very small amount of quantum information remained it would still be called decoherence wouldn't it? anyway, have there been any experiments to test whether decoherence is always complete?
 

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