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To: Phaedrus
They have yet to explain the probability wave phase collapse to, I think, anyone's satisfaction.

"Explaining" is probably not going to happen. You are asking for a metaphor or image that comports with ordinary experience. Ain't gonna happen. Still there is some evidence that more and more people are "getting used" to quantum theory and are able to make non-ridiculous statements about it. The ramifications of quantum events will gradually work their way into ordinary speech, and in a hundred ears or so, ordinary educated people will wonder what the fuss was about.

840 posted on 12/10/2003 12:38:41 PM PST by js1138
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To: js1138
You are asking for a metaphor or image that comports with ordinary experience. Ain't gonna happen. Still there is some evidence that more and more people are "getting used" to quantum theory and are able to make non-ridiculous statements about it. The ramifications of quantum events will gradually work their way into ordinary speech, and in a hundred ears or so, ordinary educated people will wonder what the fuss was about.

I would not ask for a metaphor because I don't really think that's possible. But I also don't think the physicists themselves have any clear consensual idea as to how QM works, how probability becomes actuality, let alone its ramifications. Some are doubtlessly closer to the truth than others (i.e. among the physicists), but no one knows who.

891 posted on 12/10/2003 4:28:59 PM PST by Phaedrus
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