The Double Slit Experiment & its Connection to Pseudoscience

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the Double Slit Experiment and its perceived connections to the Law of Attraction, which some participants categorize as pseudoscience. The scope includes theoretical interpretations of quantum mechanics, the observer effect, and the implications of observation in quantum experiments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of the observer effect, suggesting that it only applies when measuring particles, and wonders about the implications of observing without measurement.
  • Another participant proposes that the observer effect is real and that expectations may influence experimental outcomes, raising hypothetical scenarios involving infants or animals as observers.
  • A participant emphasizes the semantic confusion surrounding the term "observation" in quantum mechanics, clarifying that it does not necessarily require a conscious observer.
  • There is a reminder that discussions of the Law of Attraction are not permitted in this thread, as it is focused on quantum mechanics.
  • Concerns are raised about the distinction between what is reported in articles and the beliefs of individuals, specifically referencing John Wheeler's views on the observer effect.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature and implications of the observer effect, with no consensus reached on its validity or relevance to the Law of Attraction. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the influence of observation on quantum experiments.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their understanding of quantum mechanics, and there are indications of semantic confusion regarding key terms. The discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding the observer effect or its implications.

EAPB
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The Double Slit Experiment & its Connection to "Pseudoscience"

Introduction

Hello everyone :), thank you for taking the time to view this as I have a lot of questions regarding The Double Slit experiment and its connection to "The Law of Attraction" (LOA) or what many call pseudoscience. I have done a fair amount of homework on this subject before posting here, and I already understand that in no way shape or form does Quantum Physics verify the LoA. However, after doing my fair share of research, I do think it is a fair leap in logic to assume that it might be possible. Furthermore, I am posting here because I have seriously exhausted all other options. With that said, I hope you guys/girls who are all WAY smarter than me can assist in this dilemma.

My Dilemma

Now, after watching the countless videos on this experiment, and reading about it, I have come to a few forks in the road with logic and reasoning.

1. The "observer effect" (the idea that unless someone is observing something, the world operates in waves of infinite possibility) is not real in the laymen sense. The observer effect comes into play when you try to measure anything. In this case the detector, which is shining a focused beam at the electrons causing them collapse, which makes them operate like particles rather than waves.

-HOWEVER, during this experiment, when the detector was detecting the electrons, it was only registering the electrons coming through the upper slit, NOT the bottom slit. That means their should have been an interference pattern at least on the bottom slit? No? My other conundrum with this is experiment also has to deal with the detector itself. It uses beams of light from my understanding, so what type of effect would a lamp or simply a light bulb have on this experiment? Moreover, if the detector was NOT on and people were simply observing, not measuring, how would the electrons operate?


OR (the other side of the coin)

2. The observer effect is very real, and simply through trying to observe the electrons did these particles give us the result initially expected. This would mean that our expectations actually influence the experiment.

With that said, has this experiment ever been done with a baby in the room? Since a baby has no expectations would that affect the experiment in any way? What about an animal?



For anyone with some answers, it is greatly appreciated. I truly admire the intellect i found on this forum when i was chasing answers down the rabbit hole. Also, for anyone that is completely dismissive of the idea that the observers expectations influence experiments, i found this article with john wheeler, a colleague of Einstein who seems to truly believe in the observer effect, and takes it to a whole other level. http://discovermagazine.com/2002/jun/featuniverse#.Ud5qavm1F8G


NOTE: I am not well versed in QM, so the simpler the better. Also, I would like to steer away from this discussion being about how "dumb" the law of attraction is. I've studied it for quite some time, and it goes much deeper than simply manifesting wealth. In fact, that is only 5% of what it actually entails.


Thanks for whatever light can be shed on this murky topic for me. Being able to talk to minds much brighter than myself on this subject is a treat within itself :).
 
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You can use this thread to ask questions about the double slit experiment and about quantum mechanics. But pseudoscience such as the law of attraction is not allowed on this forum. So we're not going to discuss it in this thread.
 
EAPB said:
Also, for anyone that is completely dismissive of the idea that the observers expectations influence experiments, i found this article with john wheeler, a colleague of Einstein who seems to truly believe in the observer effect, and takes it to a whole other level. http://discovermagazine.com/2002/jun/featuniverse#.Ud5qavm1F8G

"Discover magazine says Wheeler believes" and "Wheeler believes" are different things.
 
EAPB said:
The "observer effect" (the idea that unless someone is observing something, the world operates in waves of infinite possibility) is not real in the laymen sense.

First thing you need to understand is a semantic confusion that sometimes arises where in QM because the word observation is used some think that implies an actual observer. Its not like that at all. An observation is when a quantum process makes its appearance here in the common sense classical macro world. In the double slit experiment its where a flash happens on the screen or a mark appears on the photographic plate. That happens regardless of if anyone looks at it or not.

I think it would be worthwhile for you to read about it again bearing that in mind.

Thanks
Bill
 
Please don't make any posts about the Law Of Attraction here. This thread is for discussion of QM only.
 

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