Feynman's Only Mystery In Quantum Mechanics: It's What You Know That Counts
POSTER
Abstract
Feynman noted the ONLY mystery in QM: The possibility of different probability distributions that cannot be explained classically. He invokes the uncertainty principle to explain the mystery, but does everything he can to show that the uncertainty principle does not explain the mystery. The mystery is explained by the WAVELENGTH of a photon (ph) interacting with the electron that affects whether one can see through which hole in a 2 hole plate the electron passed. He invokes Rayleigh’s criterion (RC) from classical optics. The wavelength of the ph determines whether there is a “jolt” to the electron that can change the probability distribution from one that would have shown interference (interf) to one that does not show interf. RC is explained in terms of the PROBABILITY AMPLITUDES of the ph’s entering one of the two detectors associated with the two holes respectively, 1) Whether one CAN tell ph’s associated with hole 1 or hole 2 are only detected at the detector near its respective hole [no interf], or 2) Instead one CANNOT tell whether ph’s associated with hole 1 or hole 2 are only detected at the detector near its respective hole [interf]. Probability amplitudes have no physical reality but provide the basis for the probabilities that comprise the distribution/s.
Presenters
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Douglas M Snyder
Authors
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Douglas M Snyder