Monday, March 31, 2008

Physics and Philosophy - Thoughts on the Implications of Quantum Mechanics, and Other Matters #10iii

10. On Quantum Mechanics:
iii. Wave particle duality is exhibited by electrons and other subatomic particles. Simply stated, such particles will exhibit either wave-like or particle-like properties, but not both, which is wholly dependent upon how we with to choose to look at the system. If we conduct interference experiments, the particle will appear as a wave, with interference patterns similar to waves in a wave tank. However, if we choose to observe scattering effects, then the system will appear as particles. In quantum mechanics, the neutral observer[11] does not exist. This discovery has many scientific and philosophical implications. We cannot know what occurs in our absence. Does observing create the world?

[11] (Or observational device.)

No comments: