Can Quantum Entanglement Solve the Mystery of Quantum Gravity?

[bassplayer142]

So if I understand Quantum entanglement just in theory, I would say that two particles (unknown as spin up or down), can be separated over a distance. At which point, if one is observed it has a 50% chance of being up and down therefore determining the other particle without directly observing it. This all makes sense to me so far.

Say we have two people each in possession of one of the two particles that are undetermined. It is important next that both of these people are in the exact same reference frame which means that their time is shared. So what happens if both of them decide to observe their particle at the same exact time?

 

[venton]

Surely there is no such thing as 'exact' same time? One will always be first, even it is a billionth of a billionth second earlier?

 

[Demystifier]

It is important next that both of these people are in the exact same reference frame which means that their time is shared. So what happens if both of them decide to observe their particle at the same exact time?

No, it is not important at all. If they decide to observe at exactly the same time, the result will be the same as if one of them (it is not important which one) decided first. More precisely, no one will be able to OBSERVE any difference.

If, on the other hand, you want to know what REALLY happens at an unobserved level, then the answer is that nobody knows the answer. Some interpretations of QM offer a clear answer, but this answer depends on the interpretation.

 

[bassplayer142]

Thanks!

 

[DougW]

Of course another way to consider this is the possibility that when either Observer A or Observer B examine their particles, they produce not a single result, but a set of results. The observation of every possible outcome occurs, and each Observer is 'split' into multiple versions over universes which are no longer entangled. The universes into which each new version of the observer exists must follow the laws of physiscs, so the Observer A in 'Universe X' who has observed 'spin up' shares that universe with the Observer B who observed 'spin down' on the entangled particle.

We seem to have a hard time getting many physicists to consider this possibility, perhaps because our egos don't want to consider that we aren't unique as beings. The idea that our 'consciousness' is just a series of observations over time is difficult enough for most people to swallow... and since QM seems to indicate that all possible quantum paths should be observable (corresponding to their probability) it would therefore hold that every time we observe anything, new versions of 'us' are created. That's a bleak thought in a world where the concept of an almighty creator making us in his image still pervades much of our cuture...maybe we just aren't ready for it yet...

 

[Careful]

If, on the other hand, you want to know what REALLY happens at an unobserved level, then the answer is that nobody knows the answer. Some interpretations of QM offer a clear answer, but this answer depends on the interpretation.

I think that is one of the deepest questions relevant for quantum gravity. Actually I predict it will be the hardest nut to crack Because in quantum gravity it *matters* because the geometry changes accordingly.