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19
votes
10answers
876 views
What is the difference between a measurement and any other interaction in quantum mechanics?
We've learned that the wave function of a particle collapses when we measure a particle's location. If it is found, it becomes more probable to find it a again in the same area, and if not the ...
15
votes
10answers
867 views
Why can't the outcome of a QM measurement be calculated a-priori?
Quantum Mechanics is very successful in determining the overall statistical distribution of many measurements of the same process.
On the other hand, it is completely clueless in determining the ...
15
votes
5answers
662 views
Is there a difference between observing a particle and hitting it with another particle?
First, let me state that I'm a lot less experienced with physics than most people here. Quantum mechanics was as far as I got and that was about 9 years ago, with no use in the meantime.
A lot of ...
4
votes
5answers
693 views
Can a scientific theory ever be absolutely proven?
I personally cringe when people talk about scientific theories in the same way we talk about everyday theories.
I was under the impression a scientific theory is similar to a mathematical proof; ...
3
votes
3answers
481 views
Time travel and nuclear decay
Reading a previous closed question an interesting variation has come to my mind.
Suppose that time travel to the past was possible:
I wait for an atom to decay and measure the time, $t_{1a}$
I ...
1
vote
2answers
478 views
The quantum state can be interpreted statistically, again
Now there are two papers
The quantum state cannot be interpreted statistically
http://arxiv.org/abs/1111.3328
(It was discussed here the consecuences of this "no-go theorem")
And this one (two of ...
0
votes
4answers
299 views
Is there anything physically infinite?
I can't think of a single thing that could be infinite.
Because the universe is expanding, isn't it? But there is an ever-changing barrier, so why could there be anything infinite, both ...
