- #1
GeekWriter
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Greetings.
I'm currently writing a novel that incorporates kernels of truth from current quantum physics theories and experiments. Please note that I am 100% layperson where this topic is concerned. I've tried to do my 'homework' by reading books geared toward folks like me... not smart enough to be a real physicist, but fascinated by that world nonetheless. Sadly, I don't personally know anyone in the field and despite asking friends and family, have come up with my hands empty. In short... I... have... no...physicist... friends (sniff). I feel very uncool. Will you be my (patient) cyber physics friend? (haha).
Ok, in all seriousness... I could really use help, here. As I said above, I am taking liberties w/ quantum physics theories and findings while writing my novel. One aspect is quantum entanglement. My dumbed-down understanding of it is that entangled photons (2 or more) are inextricably linked, regardless of distance. It is NOT a physical entanglement like depicted in some sci-fi shows where the good guy "merges" with his doppleganger. The photons are not physically anywhere near each other-- and while they each exist, they behave as if they were only one (the same) photon. The result is that whatever happens to one automatically affects the other.
From what I understand, there is evidence that human can see quantum entanglement with the naked eye. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/quantum-entanglement/ . I *fully* understand that current science does not suggest that human beings are entangled. No one has outright said it is impossible, b/c one doesn't do that in science -- but it is highly improbable.
But this is what fiction is for (right?) and in my book some folks are...just...entangled. Now, I am not writing 'science fiction.' I am writing 'geek fiction', which means that even though I include things that are highly improbable, I want the premise to be based on real science and what is currently known/theorized. In other words, I wouldn't want to explain entanglement between two people as the result of, say, alchemy. Or gamma rays. Or aliens alchemists who use gamma rays.
Assume for the sake of my story plot that there really is a multiverse and that splitting occurs so that every possible outcome happens somewhere. We're talking here only about those parallel universes that have physics laws the same as our own; "close" parallel universes. So let's say in our world, Lucy pulls the football so that Charlie Brown falls. In the parallel Universe, she let's him kick the ball and a scout sees him and offers him a scholarship to pee wee football university. In my freaky-fiction-geek world, the two Lucys and two Charlies are entangled.
Given that, here are some (most assuredly really stupid) questions I have.
1. From what I read, entangled photons do not act exactly the same. Once observed, if one has an up spin, the other will have the opposite spin. What does this mean for our Lucys and Charlies? If Charlie Brown gets upset with the Lucy in our world and he stomps away, fuming does the other Charlie feel the same way -- fuming, though inexplicably to him -- or does he behave in an opposite way (like the spins) and he's suddenly inexplicably very happy? Or, what if Lucy, her usual manipulative self in our world, pulls the football and she gets satisfaction from seeing him fail, while in another universe she allows him to kick it and she instantly falls in love with him b/c he turns out to be a world record kicker? If they are entangled, what might happen in this scenario?
2. And, let's say at the same exact time the entangled Lucys are engaged in different activities. Our world Lucy is swimming. The other world Lucy is skiing. Swimming Lucy gets a sunburn while skiing Lucy gets frostbite. Would they each feel both frostbite and sunburn simultaneously, or would they 'switch' feelings?
I guess what I need help working out is IF someone ever came up with proof that people can become entangled, what exactly might it look like? And what would happen it they "decohered", and how would that come to pass?
Finally (for now, anyway), there is one thing about the multiverse idea that I don't get. Let's say I am with my little kids (I have twins) and I'm feeding them dinner. One throws a plate of food and the other runs upstairs. In this world I ignore the tantrum and running off. I split, and in other world I make the one kid clean up the mess and the other has to come down to finish dinner. In another, I just send both kids out to play... and so on. But wouldn't the splitting have to be based on what everyone is doing at that moment? So not only is it me splitting of, it is a combination and permutation of every. single. thing. that could happen.
So if I make a matrix of the possible actions for the three of us, the # of 'new' universes caused by splitting is... even for just three people and one situation... infinite. (What is in one I decide just to sell the kids on ebay?)
Please help me wrap my head around this.
I owe you, friend(s). And please continue to tolerate me, as I have other questions for you. I promise if my book gets published you'll get a signed copy for you in this world and all the yous in the branching universes.
peace,
geekwriter.
I'm currently writing a novel that incorporates kernels of truth from current quantum physics theories and experiments. Please note that I am 100% layperson where this topic is concerned. I've tried to do my 'homework' by reading books geared toward folks like me... not smart enough to be a real physicist, but fascinated by that world nonetheless. Sadly, I don't personally know anyone in the field and despite asking friends and family, have come up with my hands empty. In short... I... have... no...physicist... friends (sniff). I feel very uncool. Will you be my (patient) cyber physics friend? (haha).
Ok, in all seriousness... I could really use help, here. As I said above, I am taking liberties w/ quantum physics theories and findings while writing my novel. One aspect is quantum entanglement. My dumbed-down understanding of it is that entangled photons (2 or more) are inextricably linked, regardless of distance. It is NOT a physical entanglement like depicted in some sci-fi shows where the good guy "merges" with his doppleganger. The photons are not physically anywhere near each other-- and while they each exist, they behave as if they were only one (the same) photon. The result is that whatever happens to one automatically affects the other.
From what I understand, there is evidence that human can see quantum entanglement with the naked eye. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/quantum-entanglement/ . I *fully* understand that current science does not suggest that human beings are entangled. No one has outright said it is impossible, b/c one doesn't do that in science -- but it is highly improbable.
But this is what fiction is for (right?) and in my book some folks are...just...entangled. Now, I am not writing 'science fiction.' I am writing 'geek fiction', which means that even though I include things that are highly improbable, I want the premise to be based on real science and what is currently known/theorized. In other words, I wouldn't want to explain entanglement between two people as the result of, say, alchemy. Or gamma rays. Or aliens alchemists who use gamma rays.
Assume for the sake of my story plot that there really is a multiverse and that splitting occurs so that every possible outcome happens somewhere. We're talking here only about those parallel universes that have physics laws the same as our own; "close" parallel universes. So let's say in our world, Lucy pulls the football so that Charlie Brown falls. In the parallel Universe, she let's him kick the ball and a scout sees him and offers him a scholarship to pee wee football university. In my freaky-fiction-geek world, the two Lucys and two Charlies are entangled.
Given that, here are some (most assuredly really stupid) questions I have.
1. From what I read, entangled photons do not act exactly the same. Once observed, if one has an up spin, the other will have the opposite spin. What does this mean for our Lucys and Charlies? If Charlie Brown gets upset with the Lucy in our world and he stomps away, fuming does the other Charlie feel the same way -- fuming, though inexplicably to him -- or does he behave in an opposite way (like the spins) and he's suddenly inexplicably very happy? Or, what if Lucy, her usual manipulative self in our world, pulls the football and she gets satisfaction from seeing him fail, while in another universe she allows him to kick it and she instantly falls in love with him b/c he turns out to be a world record kicker? If they are entangled, what might happen in this scenario?
2. And, let's say at the same exact time the entangled Lucys are engaged in different activities. Our world Lucy is swimming. The other world Lucy is skiing. Swimming Lucy gets a sunburn while skiing Lucy gets frostbite. Would they each feel both frostbite and sunburn simultaneously, or would they 'switch' feelings?
I guess what I need help working out is IF someone ever came up with proof that people can become entangled, what exactly might it look like? And what would happen it they "decohered", and how would that come to pass?
Finally (for now, anyway), there is one thing about the multiverse idea that I don't get. Let's say I am with my little kids (I have twins) and I'm feeding them dinner. One throws a plate of food and the other runs upstairs. In this world I ignore the tantrum and running off. I split, and in other world I make the one kid clean up the mess and the other has to come down to finish dinner. In another, I just send both kids out to play... and so on. But wouldn't the splitting have to be based on what everyone is doing at that moment? So not only is it me splitting of, it is a combination and permutation of every. single. thing. that could happen.
So if I make a matrix of the possible actions for the three of us, the # of 'new' universes caused by splitting is... even for just three people and one situation... infinite. (What is in one I decide just to sell the kids on ebay?)
Please help me wrap my head around this.
I owe you, friend(s). And please continue to tolerate me, as I have other questions for you. I promise if my book gets published you'll get a signed copy for you in this world and all the yous in the branching universes.
peace,
geekwriter.