Freaky Physics Proves Parallel Universes Exist

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recent article claiming that a physics experiment demonstrates the existence of parallel universes. Participants analyze the claims made in the article, the experimental methods used, and the implications of the findings, with a focus on the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the media's portrayal of scientific research.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the validity of the claims made in the article, questioning whether the observations reported are accurate or misinterpreted.
  • There is a request for clarification on how the experiment observed both states simultaneously, with multiple participants seeking details on the observational methods used.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the credibility of the source (Fox News) and its ability to accurately report scientific findings, with some suggesting that the article lacks verifiable information.
  • One participant highlights that the experiment demonstrates quantum properties in macroscopic systems but does not provide evidence for parallel universes, emphasizing that interpretations like the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) are not universally accepted among physicists.
  • Another participant elaborates on the technical aspects of the experiment, explaining the behavior of oscillators and the concept of eigenstates, while noting that the findings are consistent with conventional quantum mechanics.
  • Some participants speculate that the miscommunication may stem from the way the experiment was explained to the media, suggesting that the terminology used may have contributed to the sensationalized claims of proving parallel universes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the interpretation of the findings and the validity of the claims about parallel universes. While some acknowledge the significance of the experiment in demonstrating quantum effects, others challenge the media's portrayal and the conclusions drawn from it.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the experimental methods and the interpretations of quantum mechanics, particularly concerning the Many-Worlds Interpretation and its implications for the existence of parallel universes. The discussion reflects a range of perspectives on the credibility of the claims made in popular media versus the scientific community's understanding.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the intersection of quantum mechanics, media representation of science, and the philosophical implications of parallel universes may find this discussion relevant.

  • #31
Battlemage! said:
Leave it to fox News... sheesh, can they screw up any more?

I don't think they screwed up at all. I think they deliberately sensationalized the article because they felt they needed to in order to get the attention of their audience, who, Fox seems to think, are National Enquirer subscribers.
 
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  • #32
DaveC426913 said:
I don't think they screwed up at all. I think they deliberately sensationalized the article because they felt they needed to in order to get the attention of their audience, who, Fox seems to think, are National Enquirer subscribers.

That is paranoid... and probably right. How very depressing.
 
  • #33
Frame Dragger said:
That is paranoid... and probably right. How very depressing.
It isn't paranoia if it's true.

Maybe you meant cynical.
 
  • #34
Redbelly98 said:
I'm reading conflicting info about the required temperature (50 μK in Science News, vs. 20 mK in Scientific American). If we take the 6 GHz frequency that is reported in both, then

kT ~ ½ hf (ground state energy of a harmonic oscillator)
T ~ ½ hf/k = 0.5 · 6.6e-34 J·s · 6e9/s / (1.4e-23 J/K) = 0.14 K
T ~ 0.1 K​

Hmm, guess I don't understand why such low temperatures were required. But at least the 20 mK figure is within an order of magnitude of this simple calculation.

Well, you need low temperatures because you need to remove all high energy excitation and put the NEMS resonator (and the qubit) into its ground state before you start maniupulating it; remember that temperature is the same thing as vibrations (meaning lots of high energy phonons) in this case.

Also, I susect the 50 uK comes from the paper, in the introduction they calculate the energy for a low frequency resonators as well the as the one the actually used; basically to exaplain why they used a 6 GHz resonator as opposed to a e.g. a 10 kHz resonator.

It might be worth pointing out that there are systems that can reach 50 uK (dilution fridges with adiabatic demagnetization stages) so it is possible that someone will eventually be able to repeat the same experiment using a resonator with much lower eigenfrequency (although you can't make it too low, this type of qubit can realistially only be operated down to a few hundred MHz)
 
  • #35
DaveC426913 said:
It isn't paranoia if it's true.

Maybe you meant cynical.

You can be paranoid and right, but I consider "cynical" an insult. I was not trying to insult you. It's paranoid in the sense that there is virtually no means of confirmation or denial, and it's well within the realm of Fox or others to genuinely destroy this article without intent. That said, think you're right, because it matches the result and intention of Fox at least as well as error is always a possiblity.

You know how it goes, "Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you." :smile:
 
  • #36
This is the article you should read. It’s true (FoxNews not) and thrilling enough...
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57385/title/Physicists_observe_quantum_properties_in_the_world_of_objects"

Potential applications, he says, include using arrays of these resonators to control multiple quantum systems in information processing or to test predictions about “Schrödinger cat” states — named for a hypothetical feline simultaneously alive and dead — in which a system exists in a mix of states known as a superposition. Cleland’s team showed, somewhat indirectly, that a form of superposition existed inside their resonator. If the researchers could make a resonator with longer-lasting vibrations, scientists might be able to test superposition on the macroscopic scale.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/download/id/57383/name/Quantum_object.jpg
Amazing!
 
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  • #37
f95toli said:
Well, you need low temperatures because you need to remove all high energy excitation and put the NEMS resonator (and the qubit) into its ground state before you start maniupulating it; remember that temperature is the same thing as vibrations (meaning lots of high energy phonons) in this case.
After thinking about it some more, I realized you need the temperature low enough that the oscillator is in the ground state the vast majority of time. This requires kT much smaller than the energy spacing, so the Boltzmann factor

e-hf/kT << 1

is small for the first excited vibration mode. This ends up being

T << 0.3K

This is pretty well true at 20 mK, so the Boltzmann factor is e-15 or 3e-7 (fraction of time in the excited mode via thermal excitation).
Also, I susect the 50 uK comes from the paper, in the introduction they calculate the energy for a low frequency resonators as well the as the one the actually used; basically to exaplain why they used a 6 GHz resonator as opposed to a e.g. a 10 kHz resonator.

It might be worth pointing out that there are systems that can reach 50 uK (dilution fridges with adiabatic demagnetization stages) so it is possible that someone will eventually be able to repeat the same experiment using a resonator with much lower eigenfrequency (although you can't make it too low, this type of qubit can realistially only be operated down to a few hundred MHz)
Thanks for the added remarks.
 

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