Pointlike particles and the emergence of classicality

In summary, the emergence of a classical world in quantum mechanics is interpreted as the manifestation of dimensionless energy particles that arise from the collapse of the wave function. These particles have strong forces acting between them, making it difficult for objects to pass through walls. Mass is not an illusion, but rather a quantity similar to charge for gravity. The probability of tunneling through a wall is extremely low due to the complexity of particles needing to simultaneously tunnel and return to their original configuration. The classical regime appears because certain states and actions become more probable, resulting in the "classical paths" that are seen in classical mechanics.
  • #1
DMuitW
26
0
I've got some conceptual problems on how to interpret the emergence of a classical world, in which, i can't walk through walls, by what is in quantum mechanics described as dimensionless energy 'particles' who have manifested themselves out of the collapse of the wave function (by whichever process, decoherence, measuring,...)

Can anyone enlighten me on this subject? thanks
 
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  • #2
DMuitW said:
I've got some conceptual problems on how to interpret the emergence of a classical world, in which, i can't walk through walls, by what is in quantum mechanics described as dimensionless energy 'particles' who have manifested themselves out of the collapse of the wave function (by whichever process, decoherence, measuring,...)

Can anyone enlighten me on this subject? thanks

The particles have forces acting between them - quite strong forces. When you try to push your hand through the wall you are trying to move these powerful force configurations to a higher energy state. That takes a lot of work!
 
  • #3
So, actually, mass is just an illusion that we perceive as pointlike charges who interact on their environments through forces?
 
  • #4
No, mass is not an illusion. It can be sort of classified as a quantity analogous to charge for gravity, except for the always attractive nature of the gravitational force.

Tunneling is improbable for one electron; in order for you to walk through a wall, you'd need to have every single particle in your body spontaneously tunnel through the wall and return to the original configuration. Although this might happen, the probability of its happening is zero.

Essentially, the classical regime appears because certain states are more probable than others, and when we get into large action (as in the [tex]\int_{t_0}^t' L(\dot{q}, q, t) dt [/tex] action) certain paths and actions become more probable. These are the "classical paths" that are returned from quantum mechanics. There's some degree of detail of "deriving" classical mechanics from the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics in any book that discusses path integration.
 

FAQ: Pointlike particles and the emergence of classicality

1. What are pointlike particles?

Pointlike particles refer to subatomic particles that are believed to have no physical size or volume, but are instead considered to be mathematical points in space. These particles are the building blocks of matter and interact with each other through fundamental forces.

2. How do pointlike particles contribute to the emergence of classicality?

Pointlike particles play a crucial role in the emergence of classicality, which is the transition from the quantum world to the classical world that we experience in our everyday lives. The interaction of these particles with their environment leads to decoherence, which is the loss of quantum behavior and the emergence of classical behavior.

3. Can pointlike particles be observed directly?

No, pointlike particles cannot be observed directly since they have no physical size or volume. Instead, scientists study their properties and interactions through experiments and mathematical models.

4. How do scientists study pointlike particles?

Scientists study pointlike particles through a variety of experimental techniques, such as particle accelerators, detectors, and telescopes. They also use mathematical models, such as quantum mechanics, to understand the behavior of these particles.

5. What are some real-world applications of understanding pointlike particles and classicality?

Understanding pointlike particles and the emergence of classicality has many practical applications, including the development of new technologies such as quantum computing and quantum cryptography. It also helps us better understand the fundamental laws of nature and the behavior of matter at a microscopic level.

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