• TheMadFool
    13.8k
    Quantum Zeno Effect

    The quantum Zeno effect (also known as the Turing paradox) is a feature of quantum-mechanical systems allowing a particle's time evolution to be arrested by measuring it frequently enough with respect to some chosen measurement setting.

    Sometimes this effect is interpreted as "a system cannot change while you are watching it". One can "freeze" the evolution of the system by measuring it frequently enough in its known initial state. The meaning of the term has since expanded, leading to a more technical definition, in which time evolution can be suppressed not only by measurement: the quantum Zeno effect is the suppression of unitary time evolution in quantum systems provided by a variety of sources: measurement, interactions with the environment, stochastic fields, among other factor
    — Wikipedia

    The basic idea seems to be certain quantum systems can be frozen if observed in a certain way i.e. the system will fail to evolve. Yet, such systems are evolving which implies NO ONE IS WATCHING!

    If God did exist, he would be observing every single particle in this universe and that would have led to the Quantum Zeno Effect but since quantum systems do evolve, GOD DOES NOT EXIST!
  • javi2541997
    5.8k


    Hats off to this simple but formidable argument of atheism :up: I never knew about Quantum Zero Effect until today.
  • Philosophim
    2.6k
    The basic idea seems to be certain quantum systems can be frozen if observed in a certain way i.e. the system will fail to evolve. Yet, such systems are evolving which implies NO ONE IS WATCHING!

    If God did exist, he would be observing every single particle in this universe and that would have led to the Quantum Zeno Effect but since quantum systems do evolve, GOD DOES NOT EXIST!
    TheMadFool

    My understanding of quantum mechanics is its not an observer that causes outcomes, its active measurement. All measurement at that level requires bouncing particles off of other particles. Our instruments that we use to measure are not effective enough to not affect the thing we are measuring. If you bounce a ping pong ball off a bowling ball, the bowling ball won't be very affected. But bounce a bowling ball off of a ping pong ball, and the ping pong ball is affected greatly.

    But if I simply use my eyeballs to look at quantum realities around me, you'll notice that I'm not affecting the outcome in the slightest. When introducing a fantastical being such as God, we can also posit that God is able to know what is happening on a quantum level without altering the outcome of that quantum pathing. After all, God is not limited by out instrumentation.
  • jgill
    3.8k
    My understanding of quantum mechanics is its not an observer that causes outcomes, its active measurementPhilosophim

    Me too. Good post.
  • Wayfarer
    22.5k
    All measurement at that level requires bouncing particles off of other particles. Our instruments that we use to measure are not effective enough to not affect the thing we are measuring. If you bounce a ping pong ball off a bowling ball, the bowling ball won't be very affected. But bounce a bowling ball off of a ping pong ball, and the ping pong ball is affected greatly.Philosophim


    The explanation of uncertainty as arising through the unavoidable disturbance caused by the measurement process has provided physicists with a useful intuitive guide as well as a powerful explanatory framework in certain specific situations. However, it can also be misleading. It may give the impression that uncertainty arises only when we lumbering experimenters meddle with things. This is not true. Uncertainty is built into the wave structure of quantum mechanics and exists whether or not we carry out some clumsy measurement.Brian Greene, The Fabric of the Cosmos
  • jgill
    3.8k
    From Wikipedia:

    Calculations of quantum decoherence show that when a quantum system interacts with the environment, the superpositions apparently reduce to mixtures of classical alternatives.

    Where does physics end and math begin? Lots of unknowns here.
  • Philosophim
    2.6k
    However, it can also be misleading. It may give the impression that uncertainty arises only when we lumbering experimenters meddle with things. This is not true. Uncertainty is built into the wave structure of quantum mechanics and exists whether or not we carry out some clumsy measurement.Brian Greene, The Fabric of the Cosmos

    A great addition.
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    My understanding of quantum mechanics is its not an observer that causes outcomes, its active measurement.Philosophim

    If God is not engaging in "...active measurement" at the quantum level, God isn't omniscient.

    we can also posit that God is able to know what is happening on a quantum level without altering the outcome of that quantum pathingPhilosophim

    God's omnipotence saves the day! It appears that we can't argue against omnipotence. Gives a whole new meaning to argumentum ad verecundium and argumentum ad baculum
  • prothero
    429
    The all knowing all seeing invisible god once again escapes detection and destruction. It seems unlikely the argument will convince.
  • hume
    14
    My understanding is that it’s not the measurement. It’s misleading. It’s the interaction. When particle interacts with other particle or environment then superposition is reduced to decoherence and particle takes specific state with certain value of spin and position. Since measurement is a form of interaction, it seems to is as if measurement (or observation) caused it.

    Due to cosmic microwave background throughout the universe we have radiation particles everywhere which interact with quantum systems (particles, objects, matter that ends up making up our stars, planets, every thing) so even when there is no observer or measurement, the interaction is continuously happening.
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    My understanding is that it’s not the measurement. It’s misleading. It’s the interaction. When particle interacts with other particle or environment then superposition is reduced to decoherence and particle takes specific state with certain value of spin and position. Since measurement is a form of interaction, it seems to is as if measurement (or observation) caused it.

    Due to cosmic microwave background throughout the universe we have radiation particles everywhere which interact with quantum systems (particles, objects, matter that ends up making up our stars, planets, every thing) so even when there is no observer or measurement, the interaction is continuously happening.
    hume

    If what you say is correct and all that's needed are interactions, all quantum systems should be in the grips of the Quantum Zeno effect. I don't think that's correct.
  • hume
    14
    It will not be in the grips of zeno effect because zeno effect is produced under certain conditions which are not the abundant conditions in nature.
  • TheMadFool
    13.8k
    It will not be in the grips of zeno effect because zeno effect is produced under certain conditions which are not the abundant conditions in naturehume

    Due to cosmic microwave background throughout the universe we have radiation particles everywhere which interact with quantum systems (particles, objects, matter that ends up making up our stars, planets, every thing) so even when there is no observer or measurement, the interaction is continuously happening.hume

    :chin:
  • hume
    14
    Zeno effect is produced under careful manipulated conditions by humans. People used the knowledge about quantum physics to create a situation where this effect manifests. The measurements are performed in a manner where they are not how they occur in nature. This can only possible through agency (humans). That’s why even though this effect is proven to exist, it doesn’t exist in nature on its own.

    It’s like satellites don’t exist on their own in nature but yet our outer space is filled with them aiding in gps navigation among other things because we put them there.
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