Many Interacting Worlds theory challenges foundations of quantum science
 |
This is Professor Howard Wiseman,
Director of
Griffith University's Centre
for Quantum Dynamics
|
Griffith
University academics are challenging the foundations of quantum science with a
radical new theory based on the existence of, and interactions between,
parallel universes.
In a paper
published in the prestigious journal Physical Review X, Professor Howard
Wiseman and Dr Michael Hall from Griffith's Centre for Quantum Dynamics, and Dr
Dirk-Andre Deckert from the University of California, take interacting parallel
worlds out of the realm of science fiction and into that of hard science.
The team
proposes that parallel universes really exist, and that they interact. That is,
rather than evolving independently, nearby worlds influence one another by a
subtle force of repulsion. They show that such an interaction could explain
everything that is bizarre about quantum mechanics
Quantum
theory is needed to explain how the universe works at the microscopic scale,
and is believed to apply to all matter. But it is notoriously difficult to
fathom, exhibiting weird phenomena which seem to violate the laws of cause and
effect.
As the
eminent American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman once noted: "I
think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics."
However,
the "Many-Interacting Worlds" approach developed at Griffith
University provides a new and daring perspective on this baffling field.
"The
idea of parallel universes in quantum mechanics has been around since
1957," says Professor Wiseman.
"In
the well-known "Many-Worlds Interpretation", each universe branches
into a bunch of new universes every time a quantum measurement is made. All
possibilities are therefore realised – in some universes the dinosaur-killing
asteroid missed Earth. In others, Australia was colonised by the Portuguese.
"But
critics question the reality of these other universes, since they do not
influence our universe at all. On this score, our "Many Interacting
Worlds" approach is completely different, as its name implies."
Professor
Wiseman and his colleagues propose that:
- The universe we experience is just one of a gigantic number of worlds. Some are almost identical to ours while most are very different;
- All of these worlds are equally real, exist continuously through time, and possess precisely defined properties;
- All quantum phenomena arise from a universal force of repulsion between 'nearby' (i.e. similar) worlds which tends to make them more dissimilar.
Dr Hall
says the "Many-Interacting Worlds" theory may even create the
extraordinary possibility of testing for the existence of other worlds.
"The
beauty of our approach is that if there is just one world our theory reduces to
Newtonian mechanics, while if there is a gigantic number of worlds it
reproduces quantum mechanics," he says.
"In
between it predicts something new that is neither Newton's theory nor quantum
theory.
"We
also believe that, in providing a new mental picture of quantum effects, it
will be useful in planning experiments to test and exploit quantum
phenomena."
The ability
to approximate quantum evolution using a finite number of worlds could have
significant ramifications in molecular dynamics, which is important for
understanding chemical reactions and the action of drugs.
Professor
Bill Poirier, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Texas Tech University,
has observed: "These are great ideas, not only conceptually, but also with
regard to the new numerical breakthroughs they are almost certain to
engender."
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