If quantum mechanics had not been discovered so far, how would the world be different?

A dark cloud in the theory of quantum mechanics is the most basic conclusion of the Copenhagen School: measurement leads to the collapse of the wave function. This hypothesis has been questioned by scientific giants including Einstein because it introduces subjective consciousness, goes against daily experience, and has idealistic elements. However, due to the great success of the quantum mechanics theoretical system, this hypothesis has been shelved. The dispute has lasted nearly a hundred years, and it has also been debated for nearly a hundred years, but it has not been resolved well. In order to unify the quantum physical phenomenon of quantum wave function collapse with our daily classical feelings, the author introduces concepts such as timeline, historical time, current moment, and future time to discuss it. He believes that the Copenhagen School's "measurement leads to wave function collapse" 'The assumption is incorrect! It should be revised to: The collapse of the wave function has nothing to do with measurement, and the inherent properties of time cause the wave function to collapse. The act of measurement only causes the measured object to change its motion state. The second conclusion: all quantum wave functions in past time have collapsed, and all quantum wave functions in future time have not collapsed. At this moment, the wave function is collapsing. Possible hypotheses that may arise further after the problem is solved (to be demonstrated). Assume 1: The physical meaning of time in the definition of quantum mechanical theory is that the evolution of time is the process of collapse of the quantum wave function. Assumption 2: Space-time has quantum properties (space-time has a minimum value). Assumption 3: The quantum properties of space and time endow fundamental particles with quantum properties. Assumption 4: Historical time does not have malleability, but future time may have what the theory of relativity calls malleability (time shortening or lengthening). Assumption 5: Quantum space-time and relativistic space-time are equivalent.

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1.

Introduction to current measurement issues: Since the development of quantum mechanics at the beginning of the last century, There have been many famous battles of ideas. Among them, the so-called quantum mechanical measurement problem has become one of the most basic issues in this protracted dispute about the world view of quantum mechanics.

According to the standards of quantum mechanics, the quantum wave function collapse form, its motion law consists of two parts. One is linear dynamics: if a physical system is not measured, it will evolve in a deterministic, linear way according to the Schr?dinger equation; the other is nonlinear collapse dynamics: if a measurement is made on the system, the system will Immediately nonlinearly and randomly transitions from the initial superposition state to an eigenstate of the observable quantity being measured. At this time, the experimenter will perceive a certain observation value, that is, the corresponding eigenstate of the eigenstate. value, which is what P. Dirac and John von Neumann did in the early 1930s to unify the theoretical work of W. Heisenberg and W. Schrodinger and Bo The eigenstate-eigenvalue correlation first proposed by M. Born's probability explanation.

As a result, a logical contradiction called the measurement problem arises between the universal validity of the Schr?dinger equation, the reliability of the experimenter's perception, and the eigenstate-eigenvalue correlation. On the one hand, the universal validity of the Schr?dinger equation requires that the Schr?dinger equation governs the dynamic evolution of every physical system in the universe. Therefore, in quantum measurement, the macroscopic instrument used to measure any microscopic object will almost certainly be related to the measured object. Evolving into a quantum entangled state, rather than an eigenstate of the instrument's pointer observable quantity; on the other hand, according to the eigenstate-eigenvalue correlation, if the experimenter is awake, their measurement conclusion will be: they The measurement result obtained is a certain direction indicated by the instrument pointer, that is, a certain observation value, rather than a quantum superposition state of the pointer.

How to resolve this logical contradiction? Although orthodox quantum theorists often appeal to the "collapse hypothesis" or quantum-classical "division" to solve this problem, it seems to them that the universal validity of the Schr?dinger equation is the only dangerous assumption. However, none of the above three hypotheses is redundant in the origin of this contradiction, and denying any one of them is enough to escape this dilemma. To avoid contradictions, at least one of the three hypotheses must be rejected. According to the inherent requirements of the formal system of quantum mechanics, the universal validity of the Schr?dinger equation in the quantum world is an acceptable assumption. And if we retain the reliability of the experimenter's perception, then the eigenstate-eigenvalue correlation becomes an assumption that can be considered for removal.

It can be said that von Neumann's quantum measurement theory was the first to break Bohr's quantum-classical "division", that is, the assumption that classical instruments for quantum measurement are indispensable, and pioneered It is the first of its kind to theoretically explore the dynamic mechanism of quantum measurement using consistent quantum mechanics. However, this theoretical attempt does not take into account the macroscopic or classical characteristics of the instrument, that is, the statistical thermodynamic properties of the instrument. Instead, it ideally assumes that the instrument is a quantum pointer with only one degree of freedom, which leads to the infinite regression of the instrument. In order to cut off the infinitely regressive instrument chain, eliminate interference terms, and achieve "wave packet collapse", von Neumann finally turned to human consciousness, which led to the philosophical dilemma of physical-psychological parallelism. This dilemma still has no reasonable explanation that we can understand.

2.

After thinking, the author found the crux of the measurement problem. Now he tries to solve this problem in a way that all people with ordinary IQ can understand, and tries to A series of new hypotheses are proposed.

Let's look at how to remove consciousness and subjectivity from quantum mechanics. Everyone is welcome to question the article.

First of all, let’s talk about a very familiar concept: “time”. On the stage of quantum mechanics, time is a neglected small role. Although we are familiar with time, no one has answered clearly what the essential definition of time is. And what is the essence of time in the sense of quantum mechanics theory?

Try to analyze it. We divide the time axis into two parts, taking the current time t? as the boundary, into two parts: historical time and future time (mathematical diagram: a straight line with a direction arrow on the right, a point in the middle of the straight line represents the current moment, the point on the right is Future time, click left for historical time).

In the quantum wave function collapse scenario, we assume that time is used to mark its collapse process: as time goes by, the wave function on the future timeline does not collapse. When we observe the measurement (current moment), the wave function collapses, and the time axis enters historical time at the same time. We find that observations or measurements always overlap with time t?. Everyone, what matters is time, which is closely connected to our three-dimensional space, or is it the consciousness of the observer? Regardless of whether there are intelligent creatures observing or not, as each current moment t? passes, the wave function of all quantum in the entire universe has been collapsing, and the quanta that are not disturbed and measured will still be moving in the next time in the future. , and continues to move, and will still exist in the superposition state of quantum wave functions in the future; and some of the measured quantum particles naturally change their motion state. This process, which can be understood by our daily experience, is expressed by the Copenhagen School as a partial approximate result of "measurement leading to the collapse of the quantum wave function".

Now we can assume a different conclusion than before: the quantum wave function has collapsed in historical time (symbol t-), at the current time t? the wave function is collapsing, and at future time t* remains at Wave function state. Taking a single quantum as an example, a photon in the depths of the universe rushes from a star 10 billion light-years away and reaches the edge of the solar system. According to current quantum mechanics theory, this photon is ejected before entering our eyes. Before we observe it, it is like a ghost, here and there (i.e., quantum superposition state). Until the photon reaches the earth, when we see it, at this moment, it collapses into a real point of light on my retina! At this moment, its wave function collapses into substance (the Copenhagen School view), so when the photon flies to the edge of the solar system, it is still in the wave function state because we have not observed it yet. According to my hypothesis, this light quantum should be collapsing from 10 billion years ago until now, when it reaches the edge of the solar system! We set the time when the photon travels to the edge of the solar system as t?, then this photon has reached the edge of the solar system through one (only one) fixed channel 10 billion years ago. In the unreached space from the edge of the solar system to the earth, this photon is in an uncertain state, and its route is estimated to be a quantum superposition state, that is, there are many possible routes. Until it reaches the earth, it collapses at another moment t?, enters our eyes, and is absorbed by the retina at the same time, ending the 10 billion-year journey. Other photons of the same origin flying past our ears three centimeters away from the eyes continue. Move until it interacts with other particles.

This process matches our daily experience quite well, is very clear and easy to understand, and we can find that measurement is not the cause of the collapse of the wave function, but the change of the quantum motion state, so The measurement behavior overlaps with t? in time, which leads to misunderstanding. The unmeasured quantum is still objectively collapsing according to the current moment. Therefore, my hypothesis fully covers both states of measurement and non-measurement, and does not affect the practicality of quantum mechanical theory.

Next, we use this method to explain the double-grid experiment of light. Assume that before the experiment, the departure time of the light source photon is t?, then the time when the photon passes through the double gate is the future time, and the photon randomly selects one of the double gates in a superposition state (the traveling route is not determined). Assume 2. In the experiment, we measure after the double gates, that is, let t? mean that the photon has passed through the double gates. We will definitely find that the photon has passed through one of the double gates (of course, the photon can also enter without passing through the double gates with a small probability Detection system, quantum tunneling, ignored here for now), its movement line is single, which is consistent with the quantum performance of historical time in my hypothesis. If the time when a photon hits the fluorescent screen is taken as t?, we will find that continuous single photons will form interference fringes on the fluorescent screen, which is equivalent to simultaneous irradiation of multiple photons.

Let’s “catch” “Schr?dinger’s cat”.

Let me first retell this classic thought experiment. Inside a box is a cat, and a small amount of radioactive material. Afterwards, there is a 50% chance that the radioactive material will decay and release poisonous gas that kills the cat, while there is a 50% chance that the radioactive material will not decay and the cat will survive. According to classical physics, one of these two outcomes must occur inside the box, and an outside observer cannot know what is inside until the box is opened. In the quantum world, when the box is closed, the entire system remains in an uncertain wave state, that is, the superposition of the cat's life and death. Whether the cat is dead or alive can only be determined after the box is opened and the matter is expressed in the form of particles when observed by an external observer.

This experiment aims to demonstrate quantum mechanics' extraordinary knowledge and understanding of the microscopic particle world, but this turns the microscopic uncertainty principle into the macroscopic uncertainty principle. Objective laws are not subject to human will. Cats are both alive and dead. It goes against logical thinking.

In this system, based on my hypothesis, if t? is the time when the box is opened, if the cat dies, it must happen in historical time, and the dead cat can be seen; if the cat is not dead, it will be In the coming future timeline, cats may die at any time. It is indeed in a quantum superposition state, but it is consistent with our daily experience. If t? is a certain moment before the experiment (it seems to be this moment that Schr?dinger assumed), then the experiment has not yet started. The cat on the future timeline in the black box may die at any time, and is very normally in two states. The superposition state of these possibilities can just be used to describe the state of the cat with a wave function.

To summarize: Regardless of whether it is observed or measured, the cat in the black box, with the arrival of the current moment t?, the wave function has collapsed, and the cat continues to collapse from a quantum superposition state to a fixed state of historical time. state; while in the future time t*, the cat is still in a quantum superposition state. ——It turns out that there are two "Schr?dinger's cats", one is a cat in the historical collapse state, and the other is a cat in the future superposition state.

3. Conclusion:

1. The Copenhagen School’s hypothesis that “measurement leads to wave function collapse” is incorrect! It should be revised to: The collapse of the wave function has nothing to do with measurement, and the inherent properties of time cause the wave function to collapse.

2. On the timeline, with the current moment as the boundary, it is divided into historical time and future time. It is concluded that all quantum wave functions in past time have collapsed, and all quantum wave functions in future time have not collapsed. The current moment is the instant collapse point of the quantum wave function.

To summarize: In the early days of quantum mechanics theory, the understanding of probability collapse was still vague. Although Heisenberg temporarily solved the practical problem by using measurement behavior instead of t?, it introduced a subjective factor. , breaking the scientific worldview system established by dozens of generations of scientists such as Newton since the 17th century in Europe (the Renaissance freed Europe from the long medieval period of theocracy, and logically rigorous natural science allowed European countries to become world powers. Over the past hundred years, the understanding and attitude towards science have made countless classical physicists instinctively oppose the more subjective parts of quantum mechanics). You can imagine how strong the opposition to quantum mechanics was at that time! The resulting debate caused a large number of the best scientists such as Einstein to have ambiguities about the theory of quantum mechanics and stopped or reduced their research on quantum mechanics. Although quantum mechanics ultimately won because of its perfect agreement between the overall system and the experimental results, the great debate that took place nearly a hundred years ago has continued to this day. Not long ago, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former president of Southern University of Science and Technology still wrote an article to amplify the topic between quantum mechanics and consciousness, intending to use it as a strong evidence for spiritualism and Buddhism. This shows the wide impact and bad influence of this issue.

In addition, the concept of time is familiar to our daily experience and is a ready-made concept in classical physics, relativity, and quantum mechanics. Introducing the concept of time in the collapse process of the quantum wave function is not only not obtrusive, but also Giving quantum mechanics more room for thinking and research, for example, combined with the collapse process of the wave function, we have a deeper understanding of the nature of time. We have discovered that the evolution process of our universe, that is, the evolution process of time passage and space delay, also It is the process of quantum evolution, the process of future possibilities collapsing into historical reality. If this theory can be established, we can conclude that even based on Einstein's theory of relativity, we cannot build a machine like a "time tunnel" to go back to the past! Because of the interpretation of time from the perspective of quantum mechanics, the wave function of historical time has collapsed, making it impossible to go back in time to create another possibility. Perhaps from now on, many science fiction films will no longer be recognized by the scientific community.

Further assumptions are as follows: Assume one: Define the physical meaning of time in quantum mechanical theory: time flow is the process of collapse of the quantum wave function. Assumption 2: Space-time has quantum properties (space-time has a minimum value). Assumption 3: The quantum properties of space and time endow fundamental particles with quantum properties. Assumption 4: Historical time does not have malleability, but future time may have what the theory of relativity calls malleability (time shortening or lengthening). Assumption 5: Quantum space-time, classical space-time and relativistic space-time are identical.

Note: When the current time is equal to the measurement time, t? is included in the historical time.