What Causes the Expansion of Our Universe?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the double slit experiment in quantum mechanics, specifically addressing the nature of observation and measurement, and whether human consciousness plays a role in the collapse of the wave function. Participants explore various interpretations and implications of the experiment, including the effects of measurement devices and the definition of observation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the act of measurement, such as shining light on electrons, causes the wave function to collapse, independent of human observation.
  • Others argue that the presence of a detector, regardless of whether a human is observing the results, is what determines the outcome of the experiment.
  • A participant questions the need for "official" sources to verify claims about the double slit experiment, emphasizing the importance of academic literature.
  • There is a discussion about the definition of "observation" in quantum mechanics, with some suggesting that any interaction that forces a particle to determine its properties counts as an observation.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the notion that human consciousness has a special role in quantum measurements, suggesting that many observations occur without human involvement.
  • One participant references research by Brian Josephson, indicating interest in alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the role of human consciousness in the measurement process and the definition of observation in quantum mechanics. There is no consensus on these points, with multiple competing views presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of defining observation in quantum mechanics and the varying interpretations of measurement, indicating that a universally accepted definition may not yet exist.

  • #31
With the proviso that I've not take any formal courses in this area:
The expansion of the universe is not like a bomb exploding, where some large number of particles is statistically driven to occupy a larger volume than it previously had by a sudden increase in both the number of particles and the kinetic energy; The galaxies are not particles bouncing off the walls of the universe :wink:
Instead, it's thought to be something more fundamental than that: space itself is expanding, in the same sort of way (??) as space can bend, or do similarly strange things, as is understood from relativity. Google "Friedmann equations". Alternatively, I'd hazard a guess that searching for "expansion of the universe" in the cosmology forum would yield about as many results as searching for "double slit" would yield here... :-p
 

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