Quantum physics and Einstein were not friends. Einstein argued to the very end….
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| The Masters of the great debate |
Quantum physics is a very strange theory.
The history of quantum mechanics began as far back as 1838 discovery of cathode rays by Michael Faraday, the 1859 statement of the black body radiation problem by Gustav Kirchhoff, the 1877 suggestion by Ludwig Boltzmann that the energy states of a physical system could be discrete, and the 1900 quantum hypothesis by Max Planck that any energy is radiated and absorbed in quantities divisible by discrete ‘energy elements’, E, such that each of these energy elements is proportional to the frequency ν with which they each individually radiate energy, as defined by the following formula:
E = hv = hw,
where h is Planck’s Action Constant.
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| One of the greatest minds of the 20th century |
Planck insisted that this was simply an aspect of the processes of absorption and emission of radiation and had nothing to do with the physical reality of the radiation itself. However, this did not explain the photoelectric effect (1839), i.e. that shining light on certain materials can function to eject electrons from the material. In 1905, basing his work on Planck’s quantum hypothesis, Albert Einstein postulated that light itself consists of individual quanta. These later came to be called photons (1926).
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| The father of quantum physics |
From Einstein’s simple postulation was born a flurry of debating, theorizing and testing, and thus, the entire field. (Wikipedia)
This is all very ironic as Einstein could not accept this theory of uncertainty. There is an introduction to quantum physics elsewhere on my site. Here I just want to show Einstein and Bohr debate, which in itself highlights a lot about the strange quantum world.
All videos are courtesy of the Open University
Introduction to the debate
Einstein vs. Neils Bohr
The Basics
Einstein’s objections to Bohr’s theories
The EPR Experiment
Testing EPR for real
Concluding the debate
I have on last thing to add to this. When modern day scientists are quick to discredit those on the cutting edge of consciousness and spirituality (Deepak Chopra, Stuart Hameroff, Eckhart Tolle, etc.) they will do good by remembering that it took almost a century for the EPR paradox (and by implication Einstein) to be proven wrong. It may take as long for current hypothesis to be proven, so let’s keep an open mind.
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