- #1
Jedothek
- 1
- 0
Let me present what I think is the understanding of a particular situation in quantum mechanics, and ask people to tell me whether I am right or wrong.
To say that everything happens randomly in QM would be misleading at best. We get at least statistical prediction. But discussions such as the following raise an issue in my mind.
http://www.iem-inc.com/information/radioactivity-basics/decay-half-life
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Consider_radioactive_atoms_every_one_is_unstable_so_why_do_some_atoms_decay_and_others_dont_before_half_life
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ch374/ch418518/Chapter 3.pdfFor example: a bar of uranium lies on a counter. Imagine we can designate a single atom on the north side of the bar as atom A, and another atom on the south side as atom B. At 3:01 p.m., atom A decays, emitting an α particle. At 3:02 p.m., atom B decays. Now we ask: why did atom A decay before atom B? Would not the answer according to the most common interpretation be: “No reason,” or “No cause”?
To say that everything happens randomly in QM would be misleading at best. We get at least statistical prediction. But discussions such as the following raise an issue in my mind.
http://www.iem-inc.com/information/radioactivity-basics/decay-half-life
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Consider_radioactive_atoms_every_one_is_unstable_so_why_do_some_atoms_decay_and_others_dont_before_half_life
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ch374/ch418518/Chapter 3.pdfFor example: a bar of uranium lies on a counter. Imagine we can designate a single atom on the north side of the bar as atom A, and another atom on the south side as atom B. At 3:01 p.m., atom A decays, emitting an α particle. At 3:02 p.m., atom B decays. Now we ask: why did atom A decay before atom B? Would not the answer according to the most common interpretation be: “No reason,” or “No cause”?