Has the Uncertainty Principle been defeated?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of a recent article claiming that scientists have found a way to achieve relative certainty in the measurement of both position and momentum, potentially challenging the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (HUP). Participants explore the nature of this claim, particularly in the context of weak measurements and their relationship to quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the article implies a bypassing of the HUP, inviting thoughts and objections from others.
  • Another participant argues that the findings minimize the influence of the uncertainty principle rather than bypassing it, indicating a personal interpretation of the results.
  • A third participant references a previous discussion on the topic, suggesting that this is not a new claim and that it has been explored in other threads.
  • A later reply clarifies that the work discussed in the article does not challenge the uncertainty principle, as it can be predicted by standard quantum mechanics. It explains the concept of weak measurements, where some information about non-commuting observables can be obtained while still respecting the total uncertainty dictated by the HUP.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the findings represent a challenge to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Some argue that the principle is not bypassed, while others interpret the results as a significant development. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the findings on the HUP.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of interpreting weak measurements and their implications for the uncertainty principle, with participants acknowledging the ongoing debate within the quantum mechanics community.

markb287
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
According to this article, scientists were able to bypass the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, creating relative certainty in measurement of both position and momentum. Any thoughts, objections, comments?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I would say they minimized the influence, not bypassed the uncertainty principle that is just my take on it however
 
From the article: "Steinberg stresses that his group's work does not challenge the uncertainty principle, pointing out that the results could, in principle, be predicted with standard quantum mechanics. "

What is done here is what is called "weak" measurements. It is possible to measure many observables to a degree without eliminating all of the uncertainty in that basis.

"What quantum physicist Aephraim Steinberg of the University of Toronto in Canada and his colleagues have now shown, however, is that it is possible to precisely measure photons' position and obtain approximate information about their momentum, in an approach known as 'weak measurement'."

By performing weak measurements on 2 non-commuting observables, you gain some information about both but still have some uncertainty with both. The total uncertainty respects the HUP.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 48 ·
2
Replies
48
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K