Re: OT: 'Quantum Enigma', part 1

On Jun 29, 1:26 am, calvin <cri...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jun 28, 5:56 pm, moviePig <pwall...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:





On Jun 28, 3:24 pm, calvin <cri...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jun 28, 12:57 pm, moviePig <pwall...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jun 27, 4:43 pm, calvin <cri...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
'Quantum Enigma', by Rosenblum and Kuttner, Oxford Press

At the end of six chapters, in which the authors present an
overview of classical physics, and an introduction to quantum
physics, they offer the well known dual wave/particle nature
of light as their first illustration of physics encountering
consciousness.

They say that one can 'choose' to demonstrate either of the
dual natures of light, first with the simple projection of light
through a double slit onto a screen, and observing the wave
interference pattern, which would not occur if light was simply
a stream of photons; and second, show the particle nature
of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface
and detecting the electrons ejected from the metal by the
encounters of the photons with electrons, imparting discrete
quanta of energy to the electrons, something that would
not happen if the light came at the metal in waves.

That is true; one can make either of those two choices,
and demonstrate either one of the dual natures of light.
But the obvious question is, what would happen if one
chose to do both demonstrations simultaneously?  Simply
projecting the light onto the metal surface through a double
slit.  It would be very interesting to know if the agitation
of electrons happened at all, and if it did happen, would
the effect be uniform over the metal surface, or would it
conform to the interference pattern, ie. stronger on the
bright bands, and weaker on the dark bands?

The fact that the authors do not mention the possibility
of chosing to perform both demonstrations at once, injects
the first ray of doubt in my mind about what these otherwise
impressive two authors are presenting.  Hopefully they
will restore my confidence later on.

Without the book before me, I can't point to where your questions
might be answered... but, iirc:  In the classic double-slit
experiment, if the target is observed after *each* photon is
projected, then the resulting cumulative target-plot comprises exactly
two bands of hits, corresponding to the two slits.  But if instead the
target is observed only after the projection of *many* photons, then
the resulting plot comprises the many-banded interference pattern.
(Note that the *total* number of photons in each experiment is roughly
the same.)

As I made perfectly clear, I was commenting on what the authors
said at the end of chapter 6, pointing out what they didn't say, and
that it would have been natural for anybody to demand what they
did not provide.

I was NOT asking for an explanation based on the remainder of
the book, which I had not at that time read.

Now I have read five more chapters, but rather than get more
false assumptions about what I mean, no matter how clear I
make it; and rather than get more snide, cryptic remarks
like the one about God and Nietzsche,

LEMME  OUTTA  HERE !

(Have a nice day.)

In my post quoted above, I tried to lay out my understanding of some
experimental results that seemed in the vicinity of your expressed
wish for clarification.  Frankly, I'm not certain they were from
'Quantum Enigma' specifically.  Nor do I likely fully grasp what you
think was lacking in Chapter 6.  Nevertheless, I took a shot at
describing something potentially helpful ...trying to light a candle,
as it were, somehow oblivious to the dead-certainty that you, in
response, would fire up a torch...

No, you demonstrated the Usenet Enigma, whereby a responder
creates the post to which he is responding, by the response that
he makes.

So, I apparently created a libelous illusion that you were actually
asking about quantum phenomena. My bad. Hope you can live it down...

--

- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Quantum Enigma, part 1
    ... they offer the well known dual wave/particle nature ... of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface ... target is observed only after the projection of *many* photons, ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)
  • Re: OT: Quantum Enigma, part 1
    ... they offer the well known dual wave/particle nature ... of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)
  • Re: OT: Quantum Enigma, part 1
    ... they offer the well known dual wave/particle nature ... of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface ... target is observed only after the projection of *many* photons, ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)
  • Re: OT: Quantum Enigma, part 1
    ... overview of classical physics, ... of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface ... target is observed only after the projection of *many* photons, ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)
  • Re: OT: Quantum Enigma, part 1
    ... they offer the well known dual wave/particle nature ... of light, ie. photons, by projecting light onto a metal surface ... target is observed only after the projection of *many* photons, ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)