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Anhad Kashyap

Business Process Reengineering Consultant, Alcatel Lucent

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Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Superposition and Collapse of the Wave Function

What is Quantum Mechanics? Why does superposition exist in nature? How does the wave function collapse and lead to a simplified and reduced classical result? How do we see the effects of Schrödinger's Cat in our daily lives?

Topics: Double slit experiment Existence of God General Relativity entanglement quantum mechanics quantum superposition religion
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    Kevin Jacobson

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    Jun 16 2012: Physicists don't really know why the normal laws of physics brake down at the quantum level, but quantum mechanics in a nutshell, is simply the fact that any particle smaller than an atom can be in superposition and that they can pop in and out of existence instantly and be created out of nothing.
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      Loader Tron

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      Jun 16 2012: Welcome to the debate Kevin

      Particles don't have to be smaller than an atom to be in superposition, I refer you to the link posted by
      Natasha Nikulina (http://www.ted.com/talks/aaron_o_connell_making_sense_of_a_visible_quantum_object.html).

      Also not only 'can' particles pop in and out of existence but in fact they do it all the time all around you and in you... The really interesting thing about this behaviour is that they don't require energy to do it. Well they do, but they don't need it at the moment they appear or disappear but can in fact 'borrow' the energy and pay it back later. Basically it is cause and effect but in reverse.

      For that nugget we can thank the frantic mind of our friend Werner Heisenberg.

      Enjoy
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        Kevin Jacobson

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        Jun 16 2012: Thanks for telling me that. I never knew that before.BTW, the video was great, thanks for giving me the link!
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      Loader Tron

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      Jun 16 2012: Hi again Kevin

      I just skimmed your profile and noted your interest in spacecraft propulsion and thought you might enjoy this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v24A0HNwAUA) assuming you haven't already seen it.

      Enjoy

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