- #1
AstroMath
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Einstein's relativity of simultaneity & quantum measurement paradox.
Suppose a rocket traveling close to the velocity of light which emits a single photon from its midpoint at point A, illustrated below. The rocket is equipped with a single detector drawn in green at the front of the rocket. The velocity of light is independent of the velocity of the source, and thus an earthbound observer will note the photon's spherically-symmetric probabilistic wavefront expanding in the form of of the larger red circle C. An observer on the rocket will note the photon's spherically-symmetric probabilistic wavefront expanding in the form of of the smaller black circle D.
Let us run this single-photon experiment numerous times. Because the detector illustrated in green occupies a larger portion of the smaller Circle D, the observer on the spaceship will see the photon detected more often by the detector than will the earthbound observer. Because the detector illustrated in green occupies a smaller portion of circle C, the earthbound observer will see the photon detected less often at the detector than the rocket's observer.
One could imagine surrounding both Circle C and Circle D with similar detectors along the entire circumference. One could perform the single-photon experiment numerous times on numerous trips, using only the detectors on Circle C or only the detectors on Circle D.
On average, the earthbound observer will see the photon hit the illustrated green detector less often than will the observer on the rocket.
Can both the observer on Earth and the rocket be right?
Paradox?
Suppose a rocket traveling close to the velocity of light which emits a single photon from its midpoint at point A, illustrated below. The rocket is equipped with a single detector drawn in green at the front of the rocket. The velocity of light is independent of the velocity of the source, and thus an earthbound observer will note the photon's spherically-symmetric probabilistic wavefront expanding in the form of of the larger red circle C. An observer on the rocket will note the photon's spherically-symmetric probabilistic wavefront expanding in the form of of the smaller black circle D.
Let us run this single-photon experiment numerous times. Because the detector illustrated in green occupies a larger portion of the smaller Circle D, the observer on the spaceship will see the photon detected more often by the detector than will the earthbound observer. Because the detector illustrated in green occupies a smaller portion of circle C, the earthbound observer will see the photon detected less often at the detector than the rocket's observer.
One could imagine surrounding both Circle C and Circle D with similar detectors along the entire circumference. One could perform the single-photon experiment numerous times on numerous trips, using only the detectors on Circle C or only the detectors on Circle D.
On average, the earthbound observer will see the photon hit the illustrated green detector less often than will the observer on the rocket.
Can both the observer on Earth and the rocket be right?
Paradox?