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Author Topic:   Chance moves in mysterious ways.
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 61 of 99 (442802)
12-22-2007 5:31 PM
Reply to: Message 60 by sinequanon
12-22-2007 5:25 PM


To repeat the answer, absolute accuracy of measurement of posiiton is only possible with complete loss of precision of any possible measurement of momentum. I'm not familiar enough with the physics to say with certainty if that applies in this instance.
Now are you going to get to the point ? I'm getting bored with having to repeat everything.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 60 by sinequanon, posted 12-22-2007 5:25 PM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 62 by sinequanon, posted 12-22-2007 5:41 PM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 62 of 99 (442805)
12-22-2007 5:41 PM
Reply to: Message 61 by PaulK
12-22-2007 5:31 PM


B is either dependent or it's not dependent.
I am not asking for a hint of what your answer is. I am asking for a simple answer. Dependent or NOT dependent.
(You are only repeating yourself in trying to skirt round a simple yes/no question. You didn't even mention B in your vague reply! If I were to put all the points at once all hell would break loose).
Are you saying you DON'T KNOW the answer to the question?
Edited by sinequanon, : No reason given.
Edited by sinequanon, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 61 by PaulK, posted 12-22-2007 5:31 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 63 by PaulK, posted 12-22-2007 6:52 PM sinequanon has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 63 of 99 (442832)
12-22-2007 6:52 PM
Reply to: Message 62 by sinequanon
12-22-2007 5:41 PM


I gave you a simple answer. And if your really objecting that I simply referred to the position of the photon rather than calling that position 'B' then obviously you don't have any substantive points to make.
Here's the simple answer again. I am not certain of the appliation of the Uncertainty Principle in this precise case. You don't seem to know any better, so I can't see how it helps you. However IF the situation provides information about momentum, then the Uncertainty Principle WILL limit the precision of measurement of the position.
So are you going to get to the point of this diversion ?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 62 by sinequanon, posted 12-22-2007 5:41 PM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 64 by sinequanon, posted 12-22-2007 7:23 PM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 64 of 99 (442842)
12-22-2007 7:23 PM
Reply to: Message 63 by PaulK
12-22-2007 6:52 PM


Here's the simple answer again. I am not certain of the appliation of the Uncertainty Principle in this precise case.
i.e you can't answer 8.
8. The accuracy of B is nothing to do with the uncertainty principle of the particle, but depends on the accuracy of our instruments.
The reason you can't answer 8. is because you are applying a classical understanding of position to a particle. Your acceptance of 4., 5. and 6. are all incorrect.
4. B is not a random effect of A.
5. B is caused deterministically by the particle.
6. B is a repeatable measure of some property of the particle.
7. is incorrect.
7. The property for which B is a measure is the position of the particle.
In the classical concept B is the measurement of the classical property of position. In the quantum concept it is only part of the measurement. The full measurement is the whole probability distribution which gets randomly sampled to give B. In a similar way that a point in space can be defined by three coordinates, so the position of a particle can be defined by a whole probability distribution. It is a different sort of quantity entirely from the classical position.
Then, of course, you got stuck on 8. after calling an argument you lacked the knowledge to follow through "irrelevant".
I'm off. Back tomorrow.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 63 by PaulK, posted 12-22-2007 6:52 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 65 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 4:19 AM sinequanon has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 65 of 99 (442924)
12-23-2007 4:19 AM
Reply to: Message 64 by sinequanon
12-22-2007 7:23 PM


quote:
8. The accuracy of B is nothing to do with the uncertainty principle of the particle, but depends on the accuracy of our instruments.
The reason you can't answer 8. is because you are applying a classical understanding of position to a particle. Your acceptance of 4., 5. and 6. are all incorrect.
Unfortunately for you, I gave my reason and that's not it. I know that your original point has been refuted but do you have to indulge in such blatant dishonesty ?
And if you bother to check back, you will see that your "example" did not include location, and I objected to it on that ground. The causal property I agreed to is the property of causing dots on the film. THat IS repeatable (although not with that specific photon, but with photons of the same energy).
So your "argument " relies on confusing the issue. Very illogical.
quote:
In the classical concept B is the measurement of the classical property of position. In the quantum concept it is only part of the measurement. The full measurement is the whole probability distribution which gets randomly sampled to give B.
That's badly confused. According to your current argument 'B' is the arrival of a single photon at a specific location and the ONLY element of uncertainty is in the instruments measuring it. (Originally it was just a dot appearing on the film). THAT measurement would be identical to your "classical" property - according to your own assumptions. The probability distribution simply doesn't enter into it.
quote:
Then, of course, you got stuck on 8. after calling an argument you lacked the knowledge to follow through "irrelevant".
Actually I have been following it through - the only problem you can point to is not an obstacle - as shown by the fact that you haven't even addressed that issue. And you've yet to show any relevance to the initial point being argued.
Edited by PaulK, : No reason given.
Edited by PaulK, : No reason given.
Edited by PaulK, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 64 by sinequanon, posted 12-22-2007 7:23 PM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 66 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 5:17 AM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 66 of 99 (442928)
12-23-2007 5:17 AM
Reply to: Message 65 by PaulK
12-23-2007 4:19 AM


6 is a bit silly, really, because you can't repeat it with the same photon.
That is not the reason 6 is wrong. Repeatability of the experiment is not about using the "same photon" (another thing you are confused about).
According to your own assumptions 'B' is the arrival of a single photon at a specific location and the ONLY element of uncertainty is in the instruments measuring it. THAT measurement would be identical to your "classical" property - according to your own assumptions. The probability distribution simply doesn't enter into it.
B is a measurement of a dot on a film.
Unless you quote where I claim it is, "the arrival of a single photon at a specific location" then accept that as your own flawed assumption based on your classical understanding of position. It's a bit like trying to say a wave arrives at a specific location. You can sample the form of the wave, but an individual sample does not define any physical property of the wave.
Also quote where I have said, "the ONLY element of uncertainty is in the instruments measuring it". I don't think you are necessarily dishonest, just confused by quantum physics.
You've been so busy trying to force what you think "the point is" that you are confusing your misconceptions with my assumptions. Now you are bashing your own misconceptions, which was the reason I made those five points.
B is a non-deterministic outcome of an experiment which quantum physics predicts has NO deterministic model. Therefore, truly random phenomena exist, not just deterministic phenomena for which we choose probabalistic models.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 65 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 4:19 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 67 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 6:07 AM sinequanon has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 67 of 99 (442934)
12-23-2007 6:07 AM
Reply to: Message 66 by sinequanon
12-23-2007 5:17 AM


quote:
Unless you quote where I claim it is, "the arrival of a single photon at a specific location" then accept that as your own flawed assumption based on your classical understanding of position
Here you are:
8. The accuracy of B is nothing to do with the uncertainty principle of the particle, but depends on the accuracy of our instruments.
It doesn't mention multiple particles. It doesn't indicate ANY other source of uncertainty.
quote:
B is a non-deterministic outcome of an experiment which quantum physics predicts has NO deterministic model. Therefore, truly random phenomena exist, not just deterministic phenomena for which we choose probabalistic models.
Unfortunately for you, as I point out above we WERE talking about position and I stated that it included a random element - and YOU objected to my points.
See Message 36 where I point out that the location of the photons includes a statistical element. You change to just "a dot on the film" in Message 38. In Message 46 I specifically point out the distinction between simply causing a dot and the arrival of the photon at a particular point. Which I repeat in Message 48
And as I stated above, I say that the arrival of the photon at that point of the film IS a sufficient cause for the dot to appear
So the only deterministc element that I recognise does NOT include the specific location.
In Message 53 you change to arguing that the dot IS caused, rejecting the random element. This confirms that you are NOT including the location as part of the event at that point.
I agree that I should have realised that you were changing your argument AGAIN, earlier on, recognising your continued reliance on dishonesty and trickery. But that's all.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 66 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 5:17 AM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 68 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 6:33 AM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 68 of 99 (442938)
12-23-2007 6:33 AM
Reply to: Message 67 by PaulK
12-23-2007 6:07 AM


It doesn't mention multiple particles. It doesn't indicate ANY other source of uncertainty.
I define B in point 1) as a dot on a film. You have confused yourself by applying your classical interpretation of how the dot got there.
See Message 36 where I point out that the location of the photons includes a statistical element. You change to just "a dot on the film" in Message 38. In Message 46 I specifically point out the distinction between simply causing a dot and the arrival of the photon at a particular point. Which I repeat in Message 48
Nice try. Now try again. Show where I claim (not where you "point out") that B is "the arrival of a single photon at a specific location".
Reminder Message 65...
PaulK writes:
According to your current argument 'B' is the arrival of a single photon at a specific location and the ONLY element of uncertainty is in the instruments measuring it.
Where precisely did you think I accepted your misconception as my "current argument"?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 67 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 6:07 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 69 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 6:45 AM sinequanon has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 69 of 99 (442941)
12-23-2007 6:45 AM
Reply to: Message 68 by sinequanon
12-23-2007 6:33 AM


quote:
I define B in point 1) as a dot on a film. You have confused yourself by applying your classical interpretation of how the dot got there.
My interpretation of "how it got there' involves QM in so far as it describes WHERE the photon hits (and it describes that as a probability distribution). So make your mind up. Is B the simple effect of the photon happening to cause a dot wherever it happens to hit the film or are you including the question of where the photon hits, too ?
quote:
Nice try. Now try again. Show where I claim (not where you "point out") that B is "the arrival of a single photon at a specific location".
I DIDN'T "point out" any such thing. However it is clear that you have (re-)introduced the question of location since you insist that the probability distribution describing the arrival of the photons is relevant.
quote:
Where precisely did you think I accepted your misconception as my "current argument"?
It's not my misconception. It IS your point 8.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 68 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 6:33 AM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 70 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 7:25 AM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 70 of 99 (442947)
12-23-2007 7:25 AM
Reply to: Message 69 by PaulK
12-23-2007 6:45 AM


My interpretation of "how it got there' involves QM in so far as it describes WHERE the photon hits (and it describes that as a probability distribution). So make your mind up. Is B the simple effect of the photon happening to cause a dot wherever it happens to hit the film or are you including the question of where the photon hits, too ?
B is the dot on the film. Is always has been. B happens and you can take the film away and examine it.
The rest about "where the photon hits, too" is the confusion coming out of your head.
It's not my misconception. It IS your point 8.
Points 1 to 8 was me showing you where YOUR logic led to. YOU agreed to each point and then came unstuck, proving that your logic was flawed.
As I have said, I do not agree with you on point 4...
4. B is not a random effect of A.
It is.
Point 4, like the other numbered points, is me recording YOUR logic and asking you to confirm, which you did before your embarrassment of getting stuck.
That is how to disprove somebody's argument, not by using a load of rambling waffle.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 69 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 6:45 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 71 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 7:35 AM sinequanon has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 71 of 99 (442949)
12-23-2007 7:35 AM
Reply to: Message 70 by sinequanon
12-23-2007 7:25 AM


quote:
B is the dot on the film. Is always has been. B happens and you can take the film away and examine it.
The rest about "where the photon hits, too" is the confusion coming out of your head.
OK. B is just the appearance of a dot on the film, whereever the photon hits. All your talk about "calssical" ideas of position is a complete irrelevance because position is not a factor, just a bit of waffle you insrerted as part of your trickery.
quote:
Points 1 to 8 was me showing you where YOUR logic led to. YOU agreed to each point and then came unstuck, proving that your logic was flawed.
Except my logic doesn't come unstuck. The only problem is the confusion over whether 'B' includes location or not - a confusion that you introduced.
quote:
As I have said, I do not agree with you on point 4...
4. B is not a random effect of A.
So now you're saying that when the photon hits the film it will randomly either cause a dot or fail to cause a dot. Please explain the basis for this claim that you have suddenly introduced.
quote:
Point 4, like the other numbered points, is me recording YOUR logic and asking you to confirm, which you did before your embarrassment of getting stuck.
That is how to disprove somebody's argument, not by using a load of rambling waffle
Except that MY logic didn't include the confusion over what 'B' was. That was all your doing. So your "proof" fails. My disproof of your arguments, on the other hand does NOT rely on any such confusion and you have yet to offer any answer.
I'll stick with a method that actually works honestly, rather than relying on confusion and trickery.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 70 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 7:25 AM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 72 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 7:48 AM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 72 of 99 (442952)
12-23-2007 7:48 AM
Reply to: Message 71 by PaulK
12-23-2007 7:35 AM


OK. B is just the appearance of a dot on the film, whereever the photon hits.
B is B, a dot on the film. B, the dot on the film, has a position. You can take the film away and measure it. I have made no such interpretation of it being "where the photon hits". That avoids YOUR confusion coming from your classical interpretation of what is happening.
Except my logic doesn't come unstuck. The only problem is the confusion over whether 'B' includes location or not - a confusion that you introduced.
See above. B has a position regardless of any interpretation YOU may wish to slip in.
So now you're saying that when the photon hits the film it will randomly either cause a dot or fail to cause a dot. Please explain the basis for this claim that you have suddenly introduced.
See above. The position of B is random, regardless of any interpretation YOU may wish to slip in.
So, you are still stuck at 8. I'm sorry you find logical argument "tricky" and "confusing".

This message is a reply to:
 Message 71 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 7:35 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 74 by PaulK, posted 12-23-2007 8:04 AM sinequanon has replied

  
Son Goku
Inactive Member


Message 73 of 99 (442954)
12-23-2007 7:57 AM


Simple question
sinequanon are you basically saying that a "full" measurement of the photon would require complete knowledge of its wavefunction, (i.e. the actual amplitudes at each point), however a position measurement only samples (non-deterministically) the wavefunction over a small range of positions?
I take from this:
sinequanon writes:
B is B, a dot on the film. B, the dot on the film, has a position. You can take the film away and measure it. I have made no such interpretation of it being "where the photon hits". That avoids YOUR confusion coming from your classical interpretation of what is happening.
that you are, in general, making some point about measurement interactions not being entirely related to knowledge of the particle.
Edited by Son Goku, : Clarity

Replies to this message:
 Message 75 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 9:32 AM Son Goku has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 74 of 99 (442956)
12-23-2007 8:04 AM
Reply to: Message 72 by sinequanon
12-23-2007 7:48 AM


quote:
B is B, a dot on the film. B, the dot on the film, has a position. You can take the film away and measure it. I have made no such interpretation of it being "where the photon hits". That avoids YOUR confusion coming from your classical interpretation of what is happening.
So now you are asserting that a dot appears on the film, without any relationship to the photon.
quote:
See above. B has a position regardless of any interpretation YOU may wish to slip in.
The dot on the film has a posiiton. The fact that a dot appears on the film does not have a position. This is not a matter of my interpretation, it is all your confusion.
quote:
See above. The position of B is random, regardless of any interpretation YOU may wish to slip in.
I'm not trying to slip in any interpetations. YOu keep changing your mind as to what B is. First it's the fact of a dot appearing somewhere on the film because the photon has hit it. Then it's all about where the photon hits the film. Now it's a dot randomly appearing on the film with nothing to do with the photon.
quote:
So, you are still stuck at 8. I'm sorry you find logical argument "tricky" and "confusing".
No, we're still stuck on what B is, because you keep changing it. It's not that I have a problem with logical argument - it's your inability to clearly present a definition and stick to it.
So if we are going to proceed, you need to clearly and unambiguously define what 'B" is and STICK to it. Do you think you can manage that ?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 72 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 7:48 AM sinequanon has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 77 by sinequanon, posted 12-23-2007 10:10 AM PaulK has replied

  
sinequanon
Member (Idle past 2892 days)
Posts: 331
Joined: 12-17-2007


Message 75 of 99 (442962)
12-23-2007 9:32 AM
Reply to: Message 73 by Son Goku
12-23-2007 7:57 AM


Re: Simple question
sinequanon are you basically saying that a "full" measurement of the photon would require complete knowledge of its wavefunction, (i.e. the actual amplitudes at each point)
Yes. Or, equivalently, the amplitudes of its eigenfunctions.
however a position measurement only samples (non-deterministically) the wavefunction over a small range of positions?
Yes.
It is not "THE position" of the photon because it doesn't have a classical position. A single photon passes through two slits unlike a single classical particle. What sense would "THE position" make there?
Edited by sinequanon, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 73 by Son Goku, posted 12-23-2007 7:57 AM Son Goku has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 76 by Son Goku, posted 12-23-2007 10:05 AM sinequanon has replied

  
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