How can information be conserved if we live in a quantum universe?

In summary, the conversation discusses the role of Newton's laws in determining the future and how quantum effects can create uncertainty in predicting the future. It also delves into the concept of information in classical and quantum physics and how it is affected by quantum uncertainty. The conversation concludes that information is a complex concept that is not always easily defined.
  • #1
zeromodz
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For example, after the big bang, the only thing that decides the future is Newtons laws. However, we must take into account quantum effects we cannot be for sure what the future holds. Doesn't the same thing apply with information. How can we know the information about a system if there is quantum uncertainty?
 
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  • #2
Classical physics, including Newtons laws, are known to be incorrect. (or at least inaccurate) As such the future is NOT decided by Newtons laws.
 
  • #3
Physicists speaks of two kinds of information; classical information (appropriate in a Newtonian world picture) and quantum information (appropriate in the real world). Conservation of quantum information is at the heart of physics.

zeromodz said:
How can we know the information about a system if there is quantum uncertainty?

You'r right; we can't (always) know the information about a system, because of quantum uncertainties. But here nature gets weird: If we (that is, none, however technically advanced) cannot know the information about a system, then the information isn't there! It simply isn't defined. For example:
The information about exactly where an electron is, doesn't exist.
The information about where the electron certainly isn't do exist, and is conserved. That is to say that in the future, the electron won't be at a position where you know with certainty that it can't be (which sounds reasonable enough...).

Information is not an easy concept.
 

1. How does quantum mechanics impact the conservation of information?

Quantum mechanics, which is the branch of physics that studies the behavior of particles on a very small scale, has a major impact on the conservation of information. In a quantum universe, information can be encoded in the state of particles, and this information is conserved through various quantum processes.

2. Can information be destroyed in a quantum universe?

No, information cannot be destroyed in a quantum universe. According to the laws of quantum mechanics, information is always preserved, even if it appears to be destroyed or lost in a particular process. This is known as the "no-cloning theorem," which states that it is impossible to create an exact copy of a quantum state.

3. How is information conserved in quantum entanglement?

In quantum entanglement, particles become connected in a way that their states are correlated, even if they are separated by large distances. This means that if the state of one particle changes, the state of the other particle will also change, regardless of the distance between them. This allows for the conservation of information, as the states of the particles are always linked.

4. What is the role of black holes in the conservation of information in a quantum universe?

Black holes play a crucial role in the conservation of information in a quantum universe. According to physicist Stephen Hawking, black holes cannot destroy information, but they can scramble or encode it in their event horizon. This means that the information is not lost, but it is extremely difficult to retrieve.

5. Can information be transferred between different quantum systems?

Yes, information can be transferred between different quantum systems through a process called quantum teleportation. This involves entangling two particles and then using one to encode the information that needs to be transferred. The other particle can then be used to decode the information, effectively transferring it to a different quantum system.

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