Many-Worlds-Interpretation

[mad_scientist]

Will the Many-Worlds-Interpretation of quantum mechanics and the existence of parallel universes ever be proven or debunked in the foreseeable future?

Edited April 3, 2017 by mad_scientist

[Strange]

It is an interpretation and so it as "true" as any other interpretation. Evidence or experiment cannot distinguish between interpretations (otherwise they would be different theories).

[Country Boy]

I think you are misunderstanding what "Many Worlds interpretation" means! It does not mean "parallel universes".

[mad_scientist]

I think you are misunderstanding what "Many Worlds interpretation" means! It does not mean "parallel universes".

what does it mean then?

i thought it meant parallel universes in the space and time dimensions!

Edited April 4, 2017 by mad_scientist

[Strange]

what does it mean then?

i thought it meant parallel universes in the space and time dimensions!

 

 

The "multiverse" idea is a hypothesis based on the ideas of general relativity. I don't see any way this could be confirmed or disproved as such universes are, almost by definition, causally isolated from each other.

[mad_scientist]

 

 

The "multiverse" idea is a hypothesis based on the ideas of general relativity. I don't see any way this could be confirmed or disproved as such universes are, almost by definition, causally isolated from each other.

how much mathematics is behind the hypothesis?

what is the likelihood such parallel universes exist?

is it merely just based on quantum behaviour that is extrapolated on larger objects or is there much mathematics behind the hypothesis?

 

do you believe in the multiverse ideas?

[Strange]

how much mathematics is behind the hypothesis?

 

 

As it based on General Relativity and is, partly, prompted by the "flatness" problem (I think) then I assume there is a lot.

 

 

 

what is the likelihood such parallel universes exist?

 

Who knows.

 

 

 

is it merely just based on quantum behaviour that is extrapolated on larger objects or is there much mathematics behind the hypothesis?

 

It is not based on quantum theory at all.

 

When we have a theory of quantum gravity it may make the multiverse idea irrelevant. Or make it more plausible.

 

 

 

do you believe in the multiverse ideas?

 

I know very little about it.

[Sensei]

There is couple parallel Universe theories.

f.e. in vision of String Theory coauthor, Leonard Susskind,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Susskind

there are different versions of Universe with completely different physical constants.

Leo made book "The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design" describing his vision:

https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Landscape-String-Illusion-Intelligent/dp/0316013331

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cosmic_Landscape

 

 

However, the most typical parallel Universe interpretation can be showed on example of experiment with laser and polarization filter.

In this version, parallel universes have the same physical constants as this Universe.

 

 

Suppose so you have polarization filter in your hand.

And you have laser pointer in second hand.

Laser is sending beam of photons.

But they have random polarization. Or circular polarization.

 

Photons hitting polarization filter are reflected, or passing through.

One photon pass through,

other photon is reflected,

yet another pass through,

yet another is reflected.

50% from billions of photons per second is passing through,

50% from billions of photons per second is reflected.

Randomly.

 

You have one photon initially: will it be reflected? will it pass through?

In parallel Universe interpretation both answers are true: in one parallel Universe one photon pass through, in second one parallel Universe it does not pass through.

You can't prove or disprove it, without communication between parallel Universes.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Sensei

[Strange]

As noted, the second thing ("many worlds" interpretation of QM) has nothing to do with the first (multiverse hypothesis).