Science and Christianity

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Science and Christianity Dr. David Snoke
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Quantum Mechanics and New Age Philosophy
what is not strange about QM
wave-particle duality quantum jumps randomness
what is strange about QM
nonlocality
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The EPR Paradox
rule 1 both photons must have same
polarization rule 2 the polarization is
completely random
experiment detect probability of a coincidence
of both photons passing through a polarizer.
probability of one photon passing polarizer
depends on angle 0o 100 45o 50 90o 0
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experiment 1 polarizer 1 at 0o
polarizer 2 at 90o
if photon 1 gets through polarizer 1, then both
are at 0o therefore 0 chance of photon 2
passing, 0 coincidences
thought experiment suppose we had put the
polarizers as follows polarizer 1 at
45o polarizer 2 at -45o for the
same pair of photons as in experiment 1
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then since photon 1 is at 0o it has a 50 chance
of passing through the polarizer at 45o since
photon 2 is at 0o it has a 50 chance of passing
through the polarizer at -45o
therefore the probability of coincidence is
(50)x(50) 25
but if we do the experiment, we get 0 coindences,
not 25! (it is rotationally symmetric-- could
equally well have called one polarizer 0o and
the other 90o)
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What went wrong? How do the photons know how
to arrange their probabilities?
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Interpretations of QM
1. Hidden variables (Einsteins view) photon
behavior depends only on properties of the photon
Problem if each photon has fixed polarization,
then the probabilities are different from what
we observe EPR paradox
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2. Macroscopic Interference the photons do
not have definite polarization until detector
interacts with it
Problem Relativity spooky actions at a
distance (nonlocality)
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3. Copenhagen photons do not have a
definite polarization until an observer looks at
one of them (until the detector records it.)
no nonlocality problem? only observe the
coincidence rate after the experiment Problem
our brains are made of quantum particles too
philosophical implications of Copenhagen mind-ma
tter connection (New Age)
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Schroedingers Cat
source
detector
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4. Many-Worlds photons do not have a definite
polarization until an observer looks at one of
them-- then the entire universe splits into two,
in which both possibilities happen
Problems Occams Razor nonlocality
vastly increasing number as time moves forward
philosophical implications all choices are
meaningless
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5. Real Faster-than-light Forces
Problems no way to make the math work
no known mechanism (after 70 years)
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6. Positivism Cant do thought experiment about
same photon for different polarizer setting--
only ask about the experiment we actually did.
Problem science has always advanced when people
theorized about the unobserved.
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7. Taking into account Gods sovereignty? The
universe still obeys laws The causes are not
all local, however. The behaviour of the
photons depends on the choice you make for the
polarizer settings, before you make the choice.

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