An elegant reason why entanglement must exist

Religion / Science / SOSc

Entangled waves.Lovely bit of reasoning at the end of this long, well presented article:

Quantum information theorists are shedding light on entanglement, one of the spooky mysteries of quantum mechanics:

What my colleagues and I proposed is that this quantum [entanglement] results from the relativity principle, which (again) states the laws of physics are the same for all observers with different orientations in space.

If the electron with a vertical spin in the up direction were to pass straight through the horizontal magnets as you might expect, it would have no spin horizontally. This would violate the relativity principle, which says the particle should have a spin regardless of whether it’s being measured in the horizontal or vertical direction.

Because an electron with a vertical spin in the up direction does have a spin when measured horizontally, quantum information theorists can say that the relativity principle is (ultimately) responsible for quantum entanglement.

And since there is no force used in this principle explanation, there are none of the “spooky actions at a distance” that Einstein derided.

Seems to me that there’s a spiritual aspect here as well. Einstein’s postulate, that all physics must be the same for every observer, (which to my mind is deeply connected to Copernicus’ argument that “we are not in a uniquely privileged place in the solar system”) means that Truth must be true for everyone. And how you get to it isn’t really something to worry about…

If something is shown to be A Truth by scientific reasoning, it’s just true, not simply scientifically true. And the same holds if truth is demonstrated by philosophical arguments or by spiritual ones. Truth is truth no matter you encounter it. 

The hard part I suppose is recognizing what is A Truth rather than a simpler truism. (To my mind a truism is something that contextually true by not a Truth.)

The Author

Episcopal bishop, dad, astronomer, erstwhile dancer...

1 Comment

  1. Kate Eliza Corbett says

    Excellent as always, you always inspire me to think more, to realize God is within us!
    I’m taking a week long class on zoom from Ireland on Plato next week!!!!🙏🏻💚🙏🏻
    Kate

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