Quantum MechanicsQuantum Mechanics

Intrinsic UncertaintyIntrinsic Uncertainty

Nothing is ImpossibleNothing is Impossible

Merely ImprobableMerely Improbable

Quantum Tunneling

The Principle of Uncertainty: An observer can not simultaneously know the position and momentum (velocity) of any particle to absolute certainty.

Consider the following Case: I want to know the position of a particle but can only detect the particle by bouncing photons off of the particle

BUT: this uncertainty is an intrinsic limit in nature, not an artifact of measurement.

As soon as I have detected the spatial position of the particle, momentum has been transferred to the particle and its position has changed

ImplicationsImplications

At any given time, one particle can’t precisely know At any given time, one particle can’t precisely know where another particle is where another particle is quantum tunneling quantum tunneling results results no energy barriers no energy barriers

Cat Cat exists as a quantum superposition until an exists as a quantum superposition until an observation is made (the Copenhagen observation is made (the Copenhagen interpretationinterpretation).).

God does not play dice God does not play dice Einstein believed there Einstein believed there were unaccounted for hidden variables that were unaccounted for hidden variables that determine the state of the catdetermine the state of the cat

Uncertainty is a fundamental part of nature! – Uncertainty is a fundamental part of nature! – nothing can be measured precisely or known nothing can be measured precisely or known precisely (Aristotle and Descartes go boom)precisely (Aristotle and Descartes go boom)