- #1
john taylor
- 24
- 1
Is it possible to modify the original quantum suicide experiment in a way in which rather than dying you are put to sleep for someone to distinguish between many worlds and Copenhagen interpretations?
No. There are no experiments that can distinguish among interpretations. That's why they are CALLED interpretations --- they all use the same math and have the same experimental results.john taylor said:Is it possible to modify the original quantum suicide experiment in a way in which rather than dying you are put to sleep for someone to distinguish between many worlds and Copenhagen interpretations?
Disputed by some, see in particular this post -- https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/quantum-theory-nature-paper-18-sept.955748/page-6#post-6076788phinds said:No. There are no experiments that can distinguish among interpretations. That's why they are CALLED interpretations --- they all use the same math and have the same experimental results.
StevieTNZ said:Disputed by some
stevendaryl said:People often say that Many-Worlds, Bohmian mechanics and Copenhagen are different interpretations of the same theory, and so by definition, they can't be distinguished by experiment. To me, they are slightly different theories, not different interpretations of the same theory.
john taylor said:Is it possible to modify the original quantum suicide experiment in a way in which rather than dying you are put to sleep for someone to distinguish between many worlds and Copenhagen interpretations?
It wouldn't work, but since nobody here explained why, let me explain it. If you are put to sleep (rather than killed), then sooner or later you will awake. If someone repeats the experiment many times on you, and if each time the probability is 50% that you will be put to sleep, then in about half the cases you will experience awakening. Sure, according to MWI, there will be one copy of you that will never be put to sleep and hence never experience awakening, but most likely you will not be that copy. The probability that you will be that copy is the same as the probability that you will just be lucky without MWI. Hence this cannot prove MWI.john taylor said:Is it possible to modify the original quantum suicide experiment in a way in which rather than dying you are put to sleep for someone to distinguish between many worlds and Copenhagen interpretations?
Quantum suicide is a thought experiment that explores the implications of the Copenhagen and Many Worlds interpretations of quantum mechanics. It involves a hypothetical experiment where a person is placed in a situation where their survival depends on the outcome of a quantum measurement.
The Copenhagen interpretation states that a quantum system exists in a state of superposition until it is observed or measured, at which point it "collapses" into a definite state. This means that the observer plays a crucial role in the outcome of a quantum experiment.
The Many Worlds interpretation suggests that every possible outcome of a quantum measurement exists in a parallel universe, and each outcome is equally real. This means that there are multiple versions of the universe, and the observer simply experiences one of them based on the outcome of the measurement.
In quantum suicide, the person is placed in a situation where their survival depends on a quantum measurement. If the Copenhagen interpretation is true, the person would always perceive themselves as surviving, even if the odds of survival are very low. If the Many Worlds interpretation is true, the person would experience both survival and death in different parallel universes, leading to the question of which experience is the "real" one.
Quantum suicide raises questions about the nature of reality and the role of consciousness in the universe. It also challenges our understanding of free will and determinism. Additionally, it could have practical implications for quantum computing and the potential for parallel universes to interact with each other.