QUANTUM PHYSICS: A SHORT STORY

Quantum physics challenges all of the basic assumptions of Newtonian

physics. Quantum physics challenges our assumptions that there is an
objective classical reality “out there”, independent of us. It challenges the idea
of locality, that the only way that objects can be influenced is through direct
contact. It challenges the idea of causality that the arrow of time points only in
one direction establishing a cause→effect sequence. It challenges the idea of
continuity and determinism. It connects consciousness with the physical world
and shows that the quantum world is interconnected. This evolution has
known philosophical implications. The dogmatism of idealism and materialism
are overcome. This means that the idea and the matter are the ends of a
continuous spectrum that are alternated and metabolized. The idea includes
the matter and the matter includes the idea. The consciousness becomes
nature and the nature becomes an consciousness.

The quantum mechanics, so-called quantum theory has to do with the basic
building blocks of matter: the basic elementary particles that make up
everything in nature. These particles include atoms, molecules, neutrons,
protons, electrons, quark, as well as photons (the main light units). All these
creatures of nature are much-much smaller than anything that can be seen
the human eye. The entrance to this strange world could offer an experience
both exotic and bizarre and the adventures of Alice in Wonderland. the
dreamy quantum world: particles are waves and waves are particles. That is,
a light beam as an electromagnetic wave propagating in the universe, and a
flow of fine particulates that are directed at a rate to observer ∙ in that a
quantum experiments or phenomena reveal the wave nature of light, and
other particulate nature the same light - but never both sides simultaneously.
And nevertheless, before observe a ray of light, wave and particle flow is one.

In the realm of quantum everything is ambiguous: a dominating feature of

uncertainty across all entities transacted ∙ either light, electrons, atoms or
quarks. This uncertainty is known as the uncertainty principle / uncertainty.
We can only predict the most likely place where a particle, not the exact
location. And never able to determine with great precision to the position or
momentum. Scientific predictions for the results are statistical in nature and
are given using probability. Moreover, there are no "hidden variables" (as he
would like the Einstein), which, if it were made, would dispel the fog that
shrouds the quantum world. So, the magic, the obscure and hidden, are the
integral attribute Character Structures in quantum theory structure - the
ontological indeterminacy ∙ the answer to which is the philosophy and
mathematics.

Wave-particle Duality

In the early 1800's using a double slit experiment, Thomas Young proved that
light is wave like (Zukav, 2001). In front of a light source, Young placed a
screen with two vertical slits in it. On the other side of the double slit screen
was a wall. When the light was on and both of the slits were open, the light
produced an interference pattern which registered on the wall behind the
screen. Interference patterns result when waves interfere with each other – in
some places they reinforce each other and in some places cancel each other
out. Thus, Young's double slit experiment showed that light is wave like.
However, many years later, using a photoelectric effect, Einstein
demonstrated that light is made of particles which he called photons. This
created a problem because a wave cannot be a particle and a particle cannot
be a wave. Thus one of the mysteries of quantum physics is the wave-particle
duality.

Measurement

In quantum physics a physical system is described by a wave function. The

wave function is a mathematical representation of possible states of the
physical system; it evolves into a linear superposition of different states
(Zukav, 2001). The actual measurement always finds the physical system in a
particular state. The problem of measurement can best be demonstrated
through an experiment that is known as Schrödinger's cat paradox. In this
experiment a cat is placed in a box. Inside the box is a vial with poisonous
gas. This vial will either be broken, instantly killing the cat or the vial will not
be broken. A random event (the decay of a radioactive atom) determines
weather the vial will be broken or not. There is no way of knowing, other that
looking into the box, what happens in the box. The question is what happened
inside the box. According to classical physics the cat is either dead or alive.
According to quantum physics the cat is both dead and alive. It is in a
superposition of states. When we open the box and make an observation,
thus we learn the condition of the cat, the superposition is lost and the cat is
either dead or alive. As an observation is made the superposition materializes
in only one possibility. The observation or the measurement itself affects the
outcome, such that the outcome actually does not exist until we make a
measurement.

Uncertainty

The uncertainty principle was developed by Werner Heisenberg and the

principle states that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum
of a quantum particle. When we measure the position of an electron it will
destroy information about the electrons momentum; our observation disturbs it
(Zukav, 2001). Whatever we are observing can have momentum and it can
have a position, however we must choose which one we want to know. Thus,
Heisenberg said “what we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to
our method of questioning” (as cited in Zukav, 2001, p. 126).

Entanglement

Entanglement is a term coined by Erwin Schrödinger and refers to the

interconnectedness of quantum particles. It is the central characteristic trait of
quantum physics. Entanglement is best demonstrated in an experiment with a
two-particle system with zero spin (Zukav, 2001). The spin of each of the
particles in such a system cancels the other. If one particle has a spin up, the
other has a spin down, if one has a spin left, the other has a spin right. They
always cancel each other out. When two particles with a zero-spin are
separated in a way that does not affect their spin and then, using magnetic
field, the spin of one particle is purposely changed, the other particle will
change its spin as well. Regardless of how far apart the two particles are the
change occurs instantaneously - at a speed faster than the speed of light.
This is the mystery of entanglement, something that Einstein referred to as
“spooky action at a distance”. Einstein was critical of non locality and he
wanted to introduce “hidden variables” that would mediate this action at a
distance. However, physicist John Bell constructed a theorem, now commonly
referred to as Bell's theorem that proves that there is no reasonable “spooky
action at a distance” possible because as the theorem states “no physical
theory of local hidden variables can ever reproduce all of the predictions of
quantum mechanics”. Thus, non locality or entanglement is established.

The conclusions of quantum experiments are explained by various

theories. the most popular are:

Complementarity

Complementarity is a concept developed by Niels Bohr to explain the wave-

particle duality. The fundamental assumption of this concept is that what we
experience is not external reality, but our interaction with it. Wave-like
characteristics and particle-like characteristics are mutually exclusive or
complementary aspects of light. Although one of them always excludes the
other, both of them are necessary to understand light. However, these
characteristics are not properties of light; they are properties of our interaction
with light. Depending upon our choice of experiment, we can cause light to
manifest with different properties (Zukav, 2001)

Copenhagen Interpretation

Advanced by Niels Bohr, the Copenhagen interpretation is the most prevalent

interpretation of the quantum physics. Consciousness, the act of observing is
central to the Copenhagen interpretation (Zukav, 2001). It is the observer who
collapses the wave function (superposition of states) and a wave of probability
then materializes. The Copenhagen interpretation says that quantum theory
tells us what we can know about reality rather than reality itself. According to
this theory we do not need to know how quantum theory works; all that is
needed is that it works. It is not necessary to know how can light manifest as
both particles and waves, it is enough to know that it does and to be able to
predict probabilities.

Quantum Logic Interpretation

According to this interpretation we are confused about quantum physics

because commonsense assumptions about logic no longer apply when
dealing with complementary systems (Radin, 2006). Our logic is structured in
a way that a number can be only 0 or 1, never both. A photon can be either a
wave or a particle, not both. Quantum theory is difficult to explain and
understand because the words with which we must communicate it are not
adequate for explaining the quantum phenomena.

Many Worlds Interpretation

The Many Worlds Interpretation created by Everett, Wheeler, and Graham,

states that whenever the universe faces a quantum choice, the entire universe
splits into as many copies of itself as necessary to carry out every possible
alternative (Zukav, 2001). We experience only one world, while for every
possible quantum choice another world exists so that all probabilities
manifest. According to this theory an external observer is not necessary to
collapse one of the possibilities contained in the wave function. All of the
possible events contained within the wave function do actualize, but in
different branches of the universe.

Quantum theories of Consciousness

Observation Theory

Proposed in the early 1970s, this theory was influenced by similarities

between non local properties of the quantum wave function and non local
properties of certain aspects of consciousness as well as the quantum
measurement problem which offers possibility that mind plays an important
role in physical reality (Radin, 2006). Observational theory can be best
characterized by its central axiom: “The act of observation by a motivated
observer of an event with a quantum mechanically uncertain outcome
influences that outcome” (Houtkooper, 2002, p. 178). Observational theory
predicted and confirmed time-reversed effect where previously recorded,
unobserved random bits were observed later with instructions such as “aim for
1s” or “aim for 0s”. The results of these experiments showed that the act of
observation retroactively influences quantum events.

Model of Pragmatic Information

The motivation for the model of pragmatic information is that quantum theory
accurately accounts for observations on scales ranging from subatomic to
cosmological (Radin, 2006). Physicist and psychologist Walter von Lucadou
proposed that quantum theory might therefore be applicable to complex
systems in general. The assumption underlying this model is that the structure
and the function of a system are complementary. That is, how a system is
constructed and how it behaves is inextricably entangled, there is a
complementary relationship. Von Lucadou proposed that there is an
uncertainty relationship analogous to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This
relationship, according to von Lucadou, rests upon “pragmatic information” or
the meaning of information. Von Lucadou's model suggests that psi effects
arise in non local correlations that derive from the entangled structure-function
relationship.

Weak-Quantum Theory

Princeton researchers Robert Jahn and Brenda Dunne noted that a number of
founders of quantum theory often wrote of complementarity as being
fundamental in nature, including in the psychological domain (Radin, 2006).
Psychologist Harald Wallach expanded upon this and proposed the idea of
“generalized entanglement” as a way of understanding psi effects. Wallach
with a physicist Harald Atmanspacher and Hartmann Romer provide an
example of weak quantum theory in psychotherapy, in particular in the
phenomenon of transference (Atmanspacher, Romer, Wallach, 2002).
Transference occurs when a client projects his or hers feelings onto the
therapist and countertransference occurs when a therapist projects his or hers
issues onto the client. According to Atmanspacher and his colleagues,
because of the complementarity or entanglement of shared conscious and
unconscious states, weak quantum theory predicts entangled mental states
such as transference.

The Holographic Paradigm

Physicist David Bohm proposed an existence of a deeper reality than what we

can perceive by our senses (Wikipedia). According to Bohm there is an
implicate order, an undivided holistic realm which is beyond time, space,
matter, or energy. In this holistic realm, in the implicate order, everything is
enfolded or entangled with everything else. To illustrate how information about
a whole system can be enfolded into an implicit structure, Bohm used a
metaphor of a hologram. Independently of Bohm's ideas about a quantum
holographic reality, neuroscientist Karl Pribram proposed a concept of
hologram applied to the processes in the human brain (Talbot, 1991). Pribram
noted that the brain and a hologram store information in a very similar
manner. Pribram likens the process of electrical impulses traveling through
the neurons, and the patterns as they interact, to the process of what is going
on at the deeper quantum level. This, according to Pribram, helps explain
mystical experiences as they seem parallel to the descriptions of quantum
physics. The holographic paradigm is a synthesis of Bohm's and Pribram's
views. In a universe where everything is interconnected on a deeper level and
where individual brains are parts of the whole, psi phenomena become much
more understandable.

Stapp-von Neumann Theory

Because a key component in the quantum measurement process includes the

observer and his or her knowledge, the Stapp-von Neumann approach
assumes that the mind is woven into quantum reality (Schwartz, Begley,
2002). In this approach, the brain also operates according to the rules of
quantum physics. The brain is in a state of quantum superpositions of
possible brain events; calcium ions might or might not diffuse to the sites that
trigger neurotransmitter release. The key point is that once the brain of the
observer is included in the quantum system, the wave function describing the
state of the brain of an observer collapses to the form corresponding to her
new knowledge. The quantum state of the brain collapses when an observer
experiences the outcome of measurement. Superpositions can be seen as
branches of a tree. Each branch corresponds to a certain action or a particular
knowledge. When an observation registers in the mind of an observer these
branches are reduced. For example, if an observation is made that it is a
sunny day, the branches corresponding to “raining” are “chopped off”.
Reduction of the superpositions, the quantum state of the brain, is associated
with an increase in knowledge. This formulation of quantum theory creates a
causal opening for the mind, a way for the mind to affect matter, a mechanism
by which mind can shape the brain through the act of attention and intention.
Based on this formulation, psychiatrist Jeffrey Schwartz developed a
successful program for patients with obsessive compulsive disorder in which
patients through mental attention and intentionality created real physical
changes in their brain structure and their symptoms were alleviated
(Schwartz, Begley, 2002). The process is clearly non local and opens the
possibilities that one person's mind/brain can cause the superpositions of
brain states of another person (or object, animal, etc.) to collapse into
selected states. And that would help explain psi phenomena.

Thoughts

The real difficulty is that physics is a kind of metaphysics. natural describes

the 'true'. but we do not know what the '' reality ''. we know from the
description. Einstein

Reality according to quantum theory is dependent on the observer, it is

unpredictable, and it does not move in a direction of cause→effect. Reality is
non local, it is not predetermined, and it is discontinuous.

Can we ever have a theory that will fully explain consciousness? The answer
is no. There are two reasons for this, first, we can only study consciousness
from “the inside”, we can never get “outside” of consciousness to study it. The
second reason is that science is a language of symbols. Physics itself is only
a image of world, is only a powerful metaphor for our world - it is dealing with
shadows not reality itself. Unlike classical physics, which claimed to be
dealing with objective reality, quantum physics is aware that it is dealing with
shadows and illusions, not reality itself. In the words of Sir Arthur Eddington:
“We have learned that the exploration of the external world by the methods of
physical science leads not to concrete reality but to a shadow world of
symbols, beneath which those methods are unadapted for penetrating” (as
cited in Wilber, 2001, p. 6).

Quantum physics deals with reality and consciousness on one level only, on
the level of language and logic. To understand on this level alone, is not
enough. Wilber (2001) affirms: “Physics deals with shadows; to go beyond
shadows is to go beyond physics; to go beyond physics is to head toward the
meta-physical – and that is why so many of our pioneering physicists were
mystics” (p. 9). It is then clear that to understand consciousness, we must not
only turn our attention to theories of quantum physics, but we must also turn
our attention inward – to apprehend reality and consciousness directly without
the use of symbols, abstractions, or concepts. We must contact reality in its
“suchness”, its “isness”, as mystics say, without thought, language, and
images.