Is Quantum Experiment Randomness a Result of Incomplete Knowledge?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the nature of randomness in quantum mechanics, specifically whether it arises from incomplete knowledge of microstates. Participants assert that quantum randomness is fundamental and not merely a result of our ignorance of sub-atomic conditions. Key references include Bell's theorem and its implications, which demonstrate that the randomness observed in quantum experiments cannot be eliminated by better understanding or controlling microstates. The conversation highlights the distinction between perceived randomness and underlying deterministic theories that still comply with experimental results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with Bell's theorem and Bell's inequalities
  • Basic knowledge of particle physics and sub-atomic particles
  • Awareness of experimental methods in quantum physics
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  • Read "Bell's theorem" and its implications for quantum mechanics
  • Explore the concept of microstates in quantum systems
  • Investigate the experimental tests of Bell's inequalities
  • Study deterministic theories that challenge traditional interpretations of quantum randomness
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Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the philosophical implications of randomness in quantum experiments.

rajeshmarndi
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I am not an expert in physics. I just wanted to know.

Quantum outcome is said to be uncertain. Could this be the reason, i.e every time we run a quantum experiment, the background(or say sub-atomic area) must be different with passage of time. As we do not have complete knowledge of the sub-atomic particles and force carrier etc.. It is still investigated in particle accelerator. That is the experiment is same , the external macro world condition we set up for the experiment is same but the external micro world must not be the same. Therefore we get different outcome on quantum level.

If I am not wrong, what laws does the micro world follows we do not know. Therefore we do not yet know whether the micro world is the same, every time we run the experiment.

Similar to brownian motion which look random but is actually bombarded differently by micro particles differently at each moment.

Thanks.
 
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If I'm understanding you properly, you're asking whether it is possible that the randomness of quantum mechanics might be just an artifact of our incomplete knowledge of the detailed microstate of the system; if we really could observe and control the microstate, the randomness would go away and we'd get repeatable results measuring systems that were prepared in identical micro states.

If that's what you're asking, the answer is "no, the randomness is fundamental and not just our incomplete knowledge". To know more, start with http://www.drchinese.com/David/EPR.pdf to see how a number of very qualified physicists really wanted the world to work; and then Google around for "Bell's theorem" to see an experimentally testable consequence of that worldview (Bell's inequalities), and the experiments that show that the world does not obey Bell's inequalities.

Edit: I should add that there are theories that violate the Bell inequalities so match experimental results, but which still have a deterministic underpinning. These however are sufficiently weird in their own way that they aren't what you're looking for (if I've understood your question properly).
 
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