Re: Ray's paper finally released!

On 6 Aug, 13:34, nando_rontel...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitzur%E2%80%93Vaidman_bomb-tester

"When a photon's state is non-deterministically altered, such as
interacting with a half-silvered mirror where it non-deterministically
passes through or is reflected, the photon undergoes quantum
superposition, whereby it takes on all possible states and can
interact with itself. This phenomenon continues until an observer
interacts with it, causing the wave function to collapse and returning
the photon to a deterministic state."

You're getting confused by the term observer here. It means there is
not set result until the result is measured. Measurment in the bomb
experiment happens at three points, at one of two photon sensors at
the end of the experiment OR at the 'bomb' if the bomb is present
(which is just another photon sensor). The experiment can be set up
totally automatically and the results looked at later, this does not
alter the outcome of the experiment if you look at it now or later.
You can even look at the result indireclty buy just plotting out the
sum total of events. It does not alter the outcome.

This phenomenon continues until an observer interacts with it

This is true, but I don't think you understand what it means. Does
observation alter the course of the photon? No. Does the photon exist
in two states until observed? Yes, but not in the way you are
thinking.

I'll ask you this - what do you understand by...

' the photon undergoes quantum superposition, whereby it takes on all
possible states and can interact with itself'

It's something I've been constantly referring to in this experiment -
how have I been describing it? What are the possible states in this
experiment?

Another question, if the experiment in constantly observed will the
outcome be different than if it is not observed at all but is only
observed indirectly through mathematical addition or some other means?

If you can answer these questions then you'll understand the
experiment (at least in part).

Stew Dean

.

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