Lucianarchy
Banned
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2001
- Messages
- 2,105
'Many Worlds'
"[...]The fundamental idea of the MWI, going back to Everett 1957, is that there are myriads of worlds in the Universe in addition to the world we are aware of. In particular, every time a quantum experiment with different outcomes with non-zero probability is performed, all outcomes are obtained, each in a different world, even if we are aware only of the world with the outcome we have seen. In fact, quantum experiments take place everywhere and very often, not just in physics laboratories: even the irregular blinking of an old fluorescent bulb is a quantum experiment.
There are numerous variations and reinterpretations of the original Everett proposal, most of which are briefly discussed in the entry on Everett's relative state formulation of quantum mechanics. Here, a particular approach to the MWI (which differs from the popular "actual splitting worlds" approach in De Witt 1970) will be presented in detail, followed by a discussion relevant for many variants of the MWI.
The MWI consists of two parts:
A mathematical theory which yields evolution in time of the quantum state of the (single) Universe.
A prescription which sets up a correspondence between the quantum state of the Universe and our experiences.[..]"
Each action has an infinite number of possible outcomes. In one reality, your computer screen just fell apart and Neils Bohr appeared wearing a Tutu and singing "I Should Be So Lucky". In this reality, though, the one you are presently consiously focussed on, I suggest you are crawn to it, as a moth is drawn to a flame. One bright point of light. Hypnotic, is it not? Which way do you want / need to go next?
'Nothing you can do, that can't be done.
Nothing you can say, that can't be sung."
"[...]The fundamental idea of the MWI, going back to Everett 1957, is that there are myriads of worlds in the Universe in addition to the world we are aware of. In particular, every time a quantum experiment with different outcomes with non-zero probability is performed, all outcomes are obtained, each in a different world, even if we are aware only of the world with the outcome we have seen. In fact, quantum experiments take place everywhere and very often, not just in physics laboratories: even the irregular blinking of an old fluorescent bulb is a quantum experiment.
There are numerous variations and reinterpretations of the original Everett proposal, most of which are briefly discussed in the entry on Everett's relative state formulation of quantum mechanics. Here, a particular approach to the MWI (which differs from the popular "actual splitting worlds" approach in De Witt 1970) will be presented in detail, followed by a discussion relevant for many variants of the MWI.
The MWI consists of two parts:
A mathematical theory which yields evolution in time of the quantum state of the (single) Universe.
A prescription which sets up a correspondence between the quantum state of the Universe and our experiences.[..]"
Each action has an infinite number of possible outcomes. In one reality, your computer screen just fell apart and Neils Bohr appeared wearing a Tutu and singing "I Should Be So Lucky". In this reality, though, the one you are presently consiously focussed on, I suggest you are crawn to it, as a moth is drawn to a flame. One bright point of light. Hypnotic, is it not? Which way do you want / need to go next?
'Nothing you can do, that can't be done.
Nothing you can say, that can't be sung."
