From: Brad DeLong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> We can, until the
wavefunction collapses. Then we can calculate no
> >further
> >> until we determine which eigenstate it collapsed into.
> >>
> >Wavefunction collapse is an artifact of the Copenhagen interpretation.
> >It works when doing calculations but, as Schrodinger's cat shows, it
> >is not really sound.
> >
> >Decoherence is an approach that suggests the wavefunction doesn't
> >actually collapse, it's just that for classical systems all trace of
> >interference is washed out by interactions with the rest
> >of the universe.
>
> So is there any reason anymore not to believe in the Many-Worlds
> Hypothesis? Occam's Razor and all that...
>
Well, it depends on what you think of as simple. If I understand correctly,
in MWI, low probabilities (say 10^-9) are handled by 1 universe being
created with the low probability outcome and 10^9-1 being created with the
high probability. I think this includes radioactive decay. Since we are
all radioactive, there are a plethora of Brads and Dans being created every
picosecond. Indeed, as far as I can tell, a replete infinity of universes
must be created every small fraction of a second.
Also, you will be a mass murderer, Brad, there is no way around it.
Anything that can theoretically happen, will.
As far as I am concerned, such a rich infinity of unobservable but true
realities is not all that simple.
Dan M.
