Does Nature Play Dice? by Tejinder Singh

Tejinder Singh

Video Image

Video URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSiDsMKS_uU

Video Description

The motion of the large objects that we see around us is successfully described by Newton's laws of mechanics. To explain the motion of very small objects such as atoms, one needs a very different theory, namely, quantum mechanics. Quantum theory has met with great success when it comes to explaining atomic phenomena and their innumerable practical applications. However, when in an experiment a small object such as an atom comes into contact with a large object such as an atom detector, both classical mechanics and quantum mechanics seem to fail to explain the physics that is actually observed in the laboratory. Does this apparent failure signal the revolutionary dawn of a new mechanics?

Video Creator Bio

Tejinder Singh is a professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. His research interests are in Quantum Gravity, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, the Quantum Measurement Problem, and Cosmology.

Teresa Mendes

Dear Professor Singh,

Thank you for your video. In its description, you wrote: "Does this apparent failure signal the revolutionary dawn of a new mechanics? "

All the different interpretations of quantum phenomena you mention in your video, Quantum Theory, Bohmian Mechanics, Spontaneous Collapse, Many-worlds, are all either non-realistic or non-local, or both.

Wouldn't it help to know that in fact there is no experimental rejection of Local Realism, [tell all physics student)] so this could be the dawn of a new revolutionary science?

Good luck in the contest

Teresa

Tejinder Singh

Dear Teresa,

Thank you for your comment.

To my understanding. quantum mechanics is not a local realistic theory, because it violates Bell's inequalities, and this is confirmed by experiments.

My best regards,

Tejinder

Marc Séguin

Tejinder,

Thank you for your ambitious video that introduces the viewer to quantum mechanics, takes him on a well illustrated tour of the possible interpretations, and presents the theory of spontaneous collapse. I find it interesting that this theory is something that can in principle be tested with intermediate size systems: it will be interesting to see what comes of it when we can do the proper experiments!

Good luck in the contest!

Marc

P.S. If you have a chance to view, comment and vote on my trilogy of videos entitled "This Is Physics" --- where I try to convey the "fun of physics" by focusing on some of the greatest moments of its history --- it would be quite appreciated. As you can see, not many community members are voting in this contest (compared to the regular FQXi essay contests), and I anticipate that it will be very hard for non-FQXi members like myself to reach the 10 votes we need to get before our entry can even be considered for the final round... :(

Cristinel Stoica

Professor Singh,

Excellent explanations of quantum mechanics, some of its interpretations, and the spontaneous collapse idea! Congratulations, and good luck in the contest!

Cristi

Tejinder Singh

Thanks so much Cristi, for your kind appreciation.

Tejinder

Cristinel Stoica

Professor Singh,

If you will have few minutes, I hope you will watch and rate my videos

The puzzle of quantum reality

and

Can a black hole keep a secret?

Speaking of dice, I am looking forward to finally meet you for the first time, next week at DICE!

Cristi

madeleine richter

Dear Tejinder,

we just watched your video and thought it was really carefully done. We wished the sound would have been louder in some parts but overall it was comprehensible and we liked how you were able to return to the initial question (does the universe play dice?) after leading us through the basics of quantum mechanics. We thought your conclusion was quite strong and it is interesting to see where physics challenge our every day ignorance.

We wish you good luck in the competition!

Madeleine and Nidahl

Marc Séguin

Tejinder,

Back on September 5th, you commented on my series of videos "This Is Physics" on the forum of part 1, and you said you would soon leave ratings. You have probably left ratings since then on all 3 of my videos, but since part 3 of my trilogy, "Physics Into Darkness", is still one community-vote short of having a chance to make the finals (the two other parts are fine), I am writing everyone who left me comments to ask them to check if they have rated it. Here's the direct link:

Physics Into Darkness

Thank you, and good luck in the contest!

Marc

Schatzie Dudee

Very nice, video. "Spontaneous collapse -- " I'll be keeping an eye out for this new type of physics. Thank you very much!

Schatzie Dudee