Evolution of Matter from Quantum World: Macroscopic Scale vs Localized Particles

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter nouveau_riche
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the evolution of matter from the quantum world to macroscopic scales, focusing on the role of observation and measurement in determining the properties and structure of matter. Participants delve into concepts such as decoherence, the nature of observers, and interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how matter at the macroscopic scale evolves from the quantum world, particularly regarding the role of localized particles and observers.
  • There is a suggestion that observers do not have to be human; even molecules can act as observers, influencing the state of matter through interactions.
  • Decoherence is mentioned as a significant factor, with one participant proposing the theoretical shielding of objects from decoherence to achieve invisibility, referencing the Philadelphia Experiment.
  • Participants discuss the concept of observation in quantum mechanics, debating whether it is synonymous with measurement and the implications of this relationship.
  • Some argue that measurement gives particles a definite state, while others contend that it merely alters our information about the particle's state, referencing various interpretations of quantum mechanics.
  • The concept of wavefunction collapse is presented as an artifact of certain interpretations, with some participants advocating for interpretations that do not involve measurement paradoxes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of observation and measurement in quantum mechanics, with no consensus reached on the implications of these concepts or the validity of various interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in clarity and language may affect the understanding of some contributions, as noted by participants regarding the phrasing of questions. The discussion also reflects a variety of interpretations of quantum mechanics, indicating a lack of resolution on key concepts.

nouveau_riche
Messages
253
Reaction score
0
how does the matter as it appear on macroscopic scale evolve from quantum world and take form/structure/properties if the particle making it is localized bcoz there is an observer

what i mean is that at large scale we don't penetrate through the matter observing those particles then what is giving matter it's state of being?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
no answer yet.
is there something wrong with question or the answer needs metaphysics?
 
nouveau_riche said:
how does the matter as it appear on macroscopic scale evolve from quantum world and take form/structure/properties if the particle making it is localized bcoz there is an observer

what i mean is that at large scale we don't penetrate through the matter observing those particles then what is giving matter it's state of being?


I think observers don't have to be humans. Even molecules can be observers. So in a piece of wood. Each molecule can be an observer of the neighbor hence collapsing it.

Also due to Decoherence (just google this). If you can somehow shield an objective against Decoherence. If Bohr were right and there was no Many Worlds, then the object would just shapeshift or vanish. If you can theoreticfally shield a big object like some battleship from Philadelphia shipyard from Decoherence by maybe some kind of special magnetic field that can erase the coherence data (an entangler decoupler), then you can make the battleshield invisible making successful this hmm... Philadelphia Experiment.
 
Varon said:
I think observers don't have to be humans. Even molecules can be observers. So in a piece of wood. Each molecule can be an observer of the neighbor hence collapsing it.

Also due to Decoherence (just google this). If you can somehow shield an objective against Decoherence. If Bohr were right and there was no Many Worlds, then the object would just shapeshift or vanish. If you can theoreticfally shield a big object like some battleship from Philadelphia shipyard from Decoherence by maybe some kind of special magnetic field that can erase the coherence data (an entangler decoupler), then you can make the battleshield invisible making successful this hmm... Philadelphia Experiment.

...what?! Is this about the 'Philadelphia Experiment"? That was a decent movie
 
nouveau_riche said:
how does the matter as it appear on macroscopic scale evolve from quantum world and take form/structure/properties if the particle making it is localized bcoz there is an observer

what i mean is that at large scale we don't penetrate through the matter observing those particles then what is giving matter it's state of being?

I'm afraid your English is very broken, which is probably why this thread went so long without being answered. Perhaps you could try to describe your question in a different way (or try and run things through a native speaker).
 
maverick_starstrider said:
...what?! Is this about the 'Philadelphia Experiment"? That was a decent movie

It's just a joke :) Well. But if you can disengage a macroscopic object against decoherence and Bohr was right. Isn't it you can make it theoretically appear and disappear like quantum particles?
 
in simple words...

what is observation in context to quantum?
is it different from measurement?
 
nouveau_riche said:
in simple words...

what is observation in context to quantum?
is it different from measurement?

No. an observation and a measurement are generally the same thing. However, an OBSERVABLE is something different, and that relates to the math of Quantum Mechanics. I would also point out that there are many interpretations of Quantum Mechanics that do not have "measurement paradoxes" and don't give any special power to observers.
 
maverick_starstrider said:
No. an observation and a measurement are generally the same thing. However, an OBSERVABLE is something different, and that relates to the math of Quantum Mechanics. I would also point out that there are many interpretations of Quantum Mechanics that do not have "measurement paradoxes" and don't give any special power to observers.

then why does act of measurement gives particle a definite axis of spin(knowing the fact that particle has probability to spin around certain axis governed by probability function of spin)?
 
  • #10
nouveau_riche said:
then why does act of measurement gives particle a definite axis of spin(knowing the fact that particle has probability to spin around certain axis governed by probability function of spin)?

Does it? Or does a measurement merely change the information WE have about the spin of the particle? As I said, there are interpretations that do away with the measurement paradox entirely (my favorite being Aharanov's time-symmetric interpretation).
 
  • #11
maverick_starstrider said:
Does it? Or does a measurement merely change the information WE have about the spin of the particle? As I said, there are interpretations that do away with the measurement paradox entirely (my favorite being Aharanov's time-symmetric interpretation).

it do give it a definite spin,measurement actually collapses with the wavefunction of that particle to do so
 
  • #12
nouveau_riche said:
it do give it a definite spin,measurement actually collapses with the wavefunction of that particle to do so

As I said, wavefunction collapse is an artifact of CERTAIN interpretations, like the Copenhagen interpretation. Other interpretations, like Time-Symmetric, don't have this effect. They don't have a measurement paradox.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 232 ·
8
Replies
232
Views
22K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
520
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
13K