Logical Rational for spooky-action @ at distance

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter candymarie
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Rational
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 3K views
candymarie
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hello, this question is for anyone who is kind enough to shed some light.

I am not actually taking a physics class currently, but a philosophy of science course. One of the guest lecturers we've had this semester spoke on QM; EPR and Bells. My question is basically this, I am not doubting the probability shown, but I am just having a hard time believing that inanimate photons and protons are exhibiting behavior which can only be explained as of current as "psychic spooky action".

1.) What possible motivation or rational could there be for this to occur?

2.) Why is this phenomenon more notably present in small particles? What is the correlation if any.

Now, I say this out of complete incomprehension I'm sure, but my guts tell me there is something else that is either not being looked at or not being seen. I understand that as of current "we" do not have means to measure past 11 km, however; is that to say there is actually no connection between these particles because there is a measurement problem?

It just seems more rational (I know, what am I doing using THAT word) that either 1.) There is in fact a variable or 2.) That the photons and protons exhibiting this spooky communication are in fact connected in some way.

I am writing my final paper on Bell's, so I will be doing a lot of book hoping this week, however; I have found blogs to be beneficial as well, in the past.

Please feel free to enlighten my classical mind.



Candy Marie
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The motivation for this behavior is that it is an emergent property of the mathematical structure of quantum mechanics. It is an inherent feature of the probability wave functions that describe individual particles and of the laws of quantum mechanics that govern their interactions. This phenomenon is more notable in small particles because the wave functions that describe them are smaller and thus more sensitive to small changes. The idea that there is a variable that is not being looked at is likely correct, although it is difficult to say what that variable might be. However, we do know that the photons and protons exhibiting "spooky action" are connected in some way, as they are described by the same wave functions. In other words, the behavior of one particle can affect the behavior of another, even if they are separated by large distances. This is what is known as entanglement. In terms of further research, you may find it helpful to look into the mathematical structure of quantum mechanics and how it describes the behavior of particles. Additionally, exploring the concept of entanglement may yield some insight into the nature of this phenomenon.