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Giant molecules show quantum effects: Appear in two places at once

Denyse O'Leary
October 15, 2019
Intelligent Design, Physics
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Quantum mechanics demonstrates that it is possible but only recently could it be shown to be true in a molecule with 2000 atoms:

But it’s one thing to create an interference pattern with electrons. Doing it with giant molecules is a lot trickier. Bigger molecules have less-easily detected waves, because more massive objects have shorter wavelengths that can lead to barely-perceptible interference patterns. And these 2,000-atom particles have wavelengths smaller than the diameter of a single hydrogen atom, so their interference pattern is much less dramatic.

Rafi Letzter, “Giant Molecules Exist in Two Places at Once in Unprecedented Quantum Experiment” at Scientific American

Paper. (open access)

We’re told, no, it’s not Star Trek because people would be killed going through the interferometer.

—

See also: Sean Carroll: Physicists Don’t Even Want To Understand Quantum Mechanics

and

Theoretical Physicist: Recent Claim About Big Quantum Mechanics Find Is “Silly”

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Comments
per Zeilinger, Quantum Physics for a general audience,,, "Every object has to be in a definite place is not true anymore.,,, The thought that a particle can be at two places at the same time is (also) not good language. The good language it that there are situations where it is completely undefined where the particle is. And it is not just us (we ourselves) that don't know where the particle is, the particle itself does not know where it is. This "nonexistence" is an objective feature of reality.,,,"
Anton Zeilinger interviewed about Quantum Mechanics - video - 2018 (The essence of Quantum Physics for a general audience) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z82XCvgnpmA 40 sec: Every object has to be in a definite place is not true anymore.,,, The thought that a particle can be at two places at the same time is (also) not good language. The good language it that there are situations where it is completely undefined where the particle is. (and it is not just us (we ourselves) that don't know where the particle is, the particle itself does not know where it is). This "nonexistence" is an objective feature of reality.,,, 5:10 min:,,, superposition is not limited to small systems,,, 7:35 min:,,, I have given lectures on quantum physics to children, 6 and 7 years old, and they understand the basic concepts of quantum physics if you tell them the right way.,,, 9:00 min:,,, the main issue (with quantum mechanics) is interpretation. What does it mean for our view of the world.,,, "emotional" fights happen over what it means,,, 15:45 min:,,, the fact that some of the brightest minds in physics have been working on this issue, (i.e. The unification of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics), for 80 years now at least, and have not found a solution means that the solution will be extremely deep. It will be extremely significant if somebody found it, and it will probably be in a direction where nobody expected it.,,, 16:55:,,, Dark matter and Dark energy smell a little bit like the (fictitious) ether in the old electrodynamic theory.,,, 17:30:,,, In quantum mechanics we have the measurement paradox (i.e. measurement problem),,, I think it (the measurement paradox) tells us something about the role of observation in the world. And the role of information.,, Maybe there are situations where we have to reconsider the "Cartesian cut"*,,, *Cartesian Cut The Cartesian cut is a metaphorical notion alluding to Decartes' distinction of res cogitans (thinking substance) and res extensa (extended substance). It plays a crucial role in the long history of the problem of the relationship between mind and matter and is constitutive for the natural sciences of today. While the elements of res cogitans are mental (non-material) entities like ideas, models, or concepts, the elements of res extensa are material facts, events, or data. The conventional referents of all natural sciences belong to the latter regime. http://see.library.utoronto.ca/pages/cartesian_cutdef.html
bornagain77
October 16, 2019
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It is a nice job getting paid to conduct these experiments, where the result is full well known and expected before the start. The time would have been better spent trying to crack the Big question - what makes the wavefunction to collapse (assuming it does indeed collapse) and what does it all tell us about the world... Does anything exist at all? Or maybe it is all just math equations and the phenomenon of consciousness... If we were to kill every single life cell on Earth, would the Universe disappear? There is a good chance that it would...Eugene
October 15, 2019
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