Thursday, November 8, 2007

Discussion: Hugh Everett is a Scientist with a Vivid Imagination

In Everett's formulation, a measuring apparatus M and an object system S form a composite system, each of which prior to measurement exists in well-defined (but time-dependent) states. Measurement is regarded as causing M and S to interact. After S interacts with M, it is no longer possible to describe either system by an independent state. According to Everett, the only meaningful descriptions of each system are relative states: for example the relative state of S given the state of M or the relative state of M given the state of S.
Confusing? It was for me. Perhaps you would have understood it better if I wrote it like this:
In Everett's formulation, a measuring apparatus M and an object system S form a composite system, each of which prior to measurement exists in well-defined (but time-dependent) states. Measurement is regarded as causing M and S to interact. After S interacts with M, it is no longer possible to describe either system by an independent state. According to Everett, the only meaningful descriptions of each system are relative states: for example the relative state of S given the state of M or the relative state of M given the state of S.

4 comments:

hamoteam said...

this is the biggest copy and paste i have ever seen why else would it come up with pictures? and you didnt put that picture on did you?
noooooo

Amir said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steve Lee said...

That's great

Jonathan Jayasinha said...

ppl this aint a copy n paste.. u can load pictures on2 the blog