1530
Double-slit
(lemmy.ml)
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
The way some of such experiments are done is by creating entangled photons and observing (or not observing) the second photon. No interaction with the first photon, except mysterious instantaneous wave function collapse. Also known as Magic.
Also, their interpretation of what's happening largely falls apart with the quantum eraser variations.
If it's collapse from mechanical measurement side effects, why does it go back to an interference pattern when which path information is erased by a polarizer?
Decoherence explains the process; many-worlds explains the rest.
I just refilled my psych meds, so it should be safe-ish to ask this question…
What’s your take on consciousness? Emergent phenomena that’s really nothing other than complex interactions of atoms in the brain?
Emergent, yes. I don't know of a better explanation. It has to be "physical"; otherwise, how could it influence our perceived reality? Anything that interacts with physical reality must itself be considered physical. That leaves only either consciousness as an emergent property or some form of panpsychism, as far as I know. I haven't come across any notable physical theories describing anything like a field of consciousness or whatever. So emergent property it is.
Edit: this is assuming some form of ontological realism. There exists people who think reality is entirely constructed by one's consciousness, for example. I don't see such ideas as particularly fruitful.
As long as my IR Time of Flight rangefinder reliably measures a dude standing in front of an exhibit, even when sun is coming in the window (I know), I don’t care how many worlds there are.