Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: robert j. kolker (nowhere_at_nowhere.net)
Date: 03/19/05 

Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 15:43:47 -0500

Albert Wagner wrote:

>
> Except, of course, where space travel is concerned. NASA still uses
> those old fashioned mechanics, as do most engineers.

Most engineers working in solid state materials use the quantum theory
of solid state. Virtually all modern developments in microelectronic
circuitry is quantum based. By the way quantum electrodynamics is as
much based on the special theory of relativity as it is on quantum
theory. Tunneling devices used in computer circuitry are understood only
in quantum terms. Classically, tunneling is impossible. The modern
devices based on electron spin (spintronic devices), are understood
strictly and only in quantum terms. Pre-quantum physics had no such
notion of spin at the sub-atomic level.

Prequantum physics could not address the measurement of specific heat in
a consistent and correct manner. Nor could it account for radiating
spectra or absorbtion spectra of atoms.

The latest line of development in computer components is based on q-bits
(quauntum bits that exist in superimposed states [schroedinger's cat!]).
It remains to be seen how soon new kinds of computers will be developed
for practical use. In the lab, q-bits can be made to work.

You may not be aware of this but pre-quantum electrodynamics is
incosistent with the existence of atoms. If the classical theory were
so, electrons would radiate their energe by going about the nucleus and
would collapse on the nucleus. This does not happen. Atoms are stable
(except for the heavier elements, they tend to fission).

> Only those domains of physics that have been taken over by theoretical mathematicians
> concern themselves with infinities, curved spaces and undead cats. You
> can't seem to make up your mind as to whether or not Einstein was wrong.

Einstein was wrong about quantum theory in his later days. A fully
deterministic locally acting kosmos (such as he believed in) implies
Bell's inequalities hold, and experiment has shown this is not the case.
But quantum predictions are consistent with the results falsify Bell's
inequalities. Einstein also failed to unify gravitational and
electrodynamic field theory (no one else has either). He spent the last
30 years of his life in this dead end. Einstein also did not
consistently interpret his own gravitational field equations. Had he
done so he would have predicted that the kosmos is not static but either
expanding (which astronomical observations shows) or contracting.
Einstein remained a determinist and a realist to the end of his life.

Einstein's attitude toward quantum theory is somewhat puzzling. It was
Einstein who put quantum theory on the map, by extending Planck's idea
to radiating energy outside of solids. It was Einstein who assumed the
photon of light, although he did not call it by that name. It was also
Einstein who investigated materials in which higher energy quantum
states predominate over lower energy quantum states. This is the
foundation of lasers and masers. Both these effects are quantum effects
and not even conceived of in classical physics.

To learn more of the predominance of quantum physics you might want to
read -The Quantm Legacy- by Barry Parket. It is light on the math, but
it does an pretty good job of explaining the role of quantum concepts in
applications of physics.

Bob Kolker

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