Physics
The Interaction of Parallel Worlds May Explain Bizarre Quantum Mechanics
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Oct 30, 2014 11:16 AM EDT
The theory of parallel universes has long persisted in quantum science. Now, a team of researchers has a radical new theory when it comes to the existence of, and the interactions between, parallel worlds.
In this case, the scientists proposes that parallel universes actually exist; not only that, but they interact rather than evolving independently. Nearby worlds influence one another by a subtle force of repulsion, and this interaction could potentially explain everything that is bizarre about quantum mechanics.
Quantum theory explains how the universe works at the microscopic scale and applies to all matter. Yet it's notoriously difficult to understand and exhibits weird phenomena which seem to violate the laws of cause and effect. Yet the idea of many interacting parallel worlds could explain why scientists see these strange interactions in quantum mechanics.
In the "Many-Worlds Interpretation," each universe branches into several new universes every time a quantum measurement is made. This means that all possibilities are realized; in some universes, for example, the dinosaur-killing asteroid missed Earth. In others, Australia was colonized by the Portuguese.
In this latest theory, though, the researchers propose that these worlds interact and influence one another. The universe we experience is just one as a gigantic number of worlds, and all of these worlds are equally real, exist continuously through time, and possess precisely defined properties. In addition, all quantum phenomena arise from a universal force of repulsion between similar worlds which tends to make them more dissimilar.
"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," said Michael Hall, one of the researchers, in a news release. "In between it predicts something new that is neither Newton's theory nor quantum theory. We 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 findings are published in the journal Physical Review X.
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
More on SCIENCEwr
First Posted: Oct 30, 2014 11:16 AM EDT
The theory of parallel universes has long persisted in quantum science. Now, a team of researchers has a radical new theory when it comes to the existence of, and the interactions between, parallel worlds.
In this case, the scientists proposes that parallel universes actually exist; not only that, but they interact rather than evolving independently. Nearby worlds influence one another by a subtle force of repulsion, and this interaction could potentially explain everything that is bizarre about quantum mechanics.
Quantum theory explains how the universe works at the microscopic scale and applies to all matter. Yet it's notoriously difficult to understand and exhibits weird phenomena which seem to violate the laws of cause and effect. Yet the idea of many interacting parallel worlds could explain why scientists see these strange interactions in quantum mechanics.
In the "Many-Worlds Interpretation," each universe branches into several new universes every time a quantum measurement is made. This means that all possibilities are realized; in some universes, for example, the dinosaur-killing asteroid missed Earth. In others, Australia was colonized by the Portuguese.
In this latest theory, though, the researchers propose that these worlds interact and influence one another. The universe we experience is just one as a gigantic number of worlds, and all of these worlds are equally real, exist continuously through time, and possess precisely defined properties. In addition, all quantum phenomena arise from a universal force of repulsion between similar worlds which tends to make them more dissimilar.
"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," said Michael Hall, one of the researchers, in a news release. "In between it predicts something new that is neither Newton's theory nor quantum theory. We 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 findings are published in the journal Physical Review X.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone