What The Bleep Do We Know?

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What The Bleep Do We Know? (The Atheist Experience #586 with Matt Dillahunty & Jeff Dee).

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Quantum entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects are linked together so that one object can no longer be adequately described without full mention of its counterpart — even though the individual objects may be spatially separated. This interconnection leads to correlations between observable physical properties of remote systems.

For example, quantum mechanics holds that states such as spin are indeterminate until such time as some physical intervention is made to measure the spin of the object in question. It is equally as likely that any given particle will be observed to be spin-up as that it will be spin-down. Measuring any number of particles will result in an unpredictable series of measures that will tend more and more closely to half up and half down. However, if this experiment is done with entangled particles the results are quite different. When two members of an entangled pair are measured, one will always be spin-up and the other will be spin-down.

The distance between the two particles is irrelevant. In order to explain this result, some have theorized that there are hidden variables that account for the spin of each particle, and that these hidden variables are determined when the entangled pair is created. It may appear then that the hidden variables must be in communication no matter how far apart the particles are, that the hidden variable describing one particle must be able to change instantly when the other is measured. If the hidden variables stop interacting when they are far apart, the statistics of multiple measurements must obey an inequality (called Bell's inequality), which is, however, violated -- both by quantum mechanical theory and in experiments.

When pairs of particles are generated by the decay of other particles, naturally or through induced collision, these pairs may be termed "entangled", in that such pairs often necessarily have linked and opposite qualities, i.e. of spin or charge. The assumption that measurement in effect "creates" the state of the measured quality goes back to the arguments of, among others: Schrödinger, and Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (see EPR paradox) concerning Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and its relation to observation (see also the Copenhagen interpretation).

The analysis of entangled particles by means of Bell's theorem, can lead to an impression of non-locality (that is, that there exists a connection between the members of such a pair that defies both classical and relativistic concepts of space and time). This is reasonable if it is assumed that each particle departs the scene of the pair's creation in an ambiguous state (as per a possible interpretation of Heisenberg). In such case, either dichotomous outcome of a given measurement remains a possibility; only measurement itself would precipitate a distinct value.

On the other hand, if each particle departs the scene of its "entangled creation" with properties that would unambiguously determine the value of the quality to be subsequently measured, then a postulated instantaneous transmission of information across space and time would not be required to account for the result. The Bohm interpretation postulates that a guide wave exists connecting what are perceived as individual particles such that the supposed hidden variables are actually the particles themselves existing as functions of that wave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement

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[GregJPreece]

@rysw19 Pro-tip: if you're going to claim to know what scientific theories are, actually know. There is a great difference between a scientific theory and the way "theory" is used by the layman.

[PhobicOne]

@rysw19 No, it's you that's mistaken. "A scientific theory is constructed to conform to available empirical data about such observations, and is put forth as a principle or body of principles for explaining a class of phenomena."

As for the "false scientific theory" you could invent, that would be a hypothesis.

[ADADEL1]

My only real issue with Jeff's description of QE is saying we can't instead of not yet.

[TheSkunkCat]

This guy has NO idea what he's talking about.

He's throwing about words he doesn't actually understand if you ask me, and making an incoherent word salad out of them.

It's about equivalent to saying 'Man, this joint is like... all strings man! Wouldn't that be cosmic! We're all one!' At least that's what I hear when I listen to this caller.

[casablanca4381]

from playing the angel album,- suffer well

[casablanca4381]

theme song is from depeche mode!!!

[xXDISASTERPIECE934Xx]

@lightandbeautiful what social agenda is that? please do tell.

[lanceawatt]

@Yudovitch great, thanks, I need to freshen up on my knowledge a bit though lol =)

[derman077]

They're talking about quantum entanglement. All matter seems to be connected.

[Yudovitch]

@rysw "...abstractions of observable phenomena expressed as quantifiable properties."

If you're looking for truth/falsity of a theory, that's the point where you'll find it. Note the key words *observable* and *quantifiable*.

And while you may be a *student* of physics, I am an actual physicist. Please don't tarnish our field with your sophomoric crap.