Searcharxiv⌕ Search

SEARCH · Searcharxiv

Results for “physics.hist-ph”

Search indexed arXiv papers on artificial intelligence, large language models, computer vision and robotics. Read source abstracts and follow links to arXiv.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
arXiv2013

Shut up and let me think. Or why you should work on the foundations of quantum mechanics as much as you please

If you have a restless intellect, it is very likely that you have played at some point with the idea of investigating the meaning and conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics. It is also probable (albeit not certain) that your intentions have been stopped on their tracks by an encounter with some version of the "Shut up and calculate" command. You may have heard that everything is already understood. That understanding is not your job. Or, if it is, it is either impossible or very difficult. Maybe somebody explained to you that physics is concerned with "hows" and not with "whys"; that whys are the business of "philosophy" ---you know, that dirty word. That what you call "understanding" is just being Newtonian; which of course you cannot ask quantum mechanics to be. Perhaps they also added some norms: The important thing a theory must do is predict; a theory must only talk about measurable quantities. It may also be the case that you almost asked "OK, and why is that?", but you finally bit your tongue. If you persisted in your intentions and the debate got a little heated up, it is even possible that it was suggested that you suffered of some type of moral or epistemic weakness that tend to disappear as you grow up. Maybe you received some job advice such as "Don't work in that if you ever want to own a house". I have certainly met all these objections in my short career, and I think that they are all just wrong. In this somewhat personal document, I try to defend that making sense of quantum mechanics is an exciting, challenging, important and open scientific endeavor. I do this by compulsively quoting Feynman (and others), and I provide some arguments that you might want to use the next time you confront the mentioned "opinions". By analogy with the anti-rationalistic Copenhagen command, all the arguments are subsumed in a standard answer to it: "Shut up and let me think"

quant-ph↗
arXiv2015

Russian meteorite Bronze Age (rock record)

This paper presents the results of a study of petroglyphs found in the quartzite grotto near the Skelnovsky small village in the Northern Black Sea in the South of Russia. The aim of the study was the analysis and interpretation of the Early Bronze Age petroglyphs using archaeoastronomical methods. The article presents a comparative analysis of Skelnovsky grotto ancient images and contemporary eyewitness accounts of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite fall and meteorite shower. Some petroglyphs were interpreted by us using ethnographic and folklore material. In this study, the magnetic declination for the geographical coordinates Skelnovsky farm was calculated, and the projection of the whole picture Skelnovskih petroglyphs on the topographical map of the area was built. The proposed location of the meteorite fall was determined with this projection. It is confirmed by satellite pictures, on which are the distinguishable terrain features, typical for the meteorite fall, are visible including the possible impact crater, and the corresponding symbols on a topographical map. The studies in the article conclude the astronomical character of the main content of the Skelnovsky petroglyphs picture which depicts the fall of a large meteoroid (bolide), similar to the Sikhote-Alin meteorite, accompanied by a meteorite shower. After a comparative analysis of the images in Sklenovsky Grotto it was discovered that the petroglyph is a copy of the figure depicted on the famous Mesopotamic clay tablet YBC 7289. We speculate that this figure is a prototype of an important building used either for ritual or farm purposes, typical for the Bronze Age and distributed as in Mesopotamia, as also on the coast of the Northern Black Sea. archaeoastronomy, petroglyphs, rock art, meteoroid, meteorite shower, impact crater, Babylonian clay tablet YBC 7289

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

The Past, Present and Future of Cybernetics and Systems Research

Cybernetics and Systems Research (CSR) were developed in the mid-twentieth century, offering the possibility of describing and comparing different phenomena using the same language. The concepts which originated in CSR have spread to practically all disciplines, many now used within the scientific study of complex systems. CSR has the potential to contribute to the solution of relevant problems, but the path towards this goal is not straightforward. This paper summarizes the ideas presented by the authors during a round table in 2012 on the past, present and future of CSR.

nlin.AO↗
arXiv2013

The Legacy of Hideki Yukawa, Sin-itiro Tomonaga, and Shoichi Sakata: Some Aspects from their Archives

Hideki Yukawa, Sin-itiro Tomonaga and Shoichi Sakata pioneered nuclear and particle physics and left enduring legacies. Their friendly collaboration and severe competition laid the foundation to bring up the active postwar generation of nuclear and particle physicists in Japan. In this presentation we illustrate milestones of nuclear and particle physics in Japan from 1930's to mid-1940's which have been clarified in Yukawa Hall Archival Library, Tomonaga Memorial Room and Sakata Memorial Archival Library.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

Rovelli' s relational quantum mechanics, monism and quantum becoming

In this paper I present and defend Rovelli's relation quantum mechanics from some foreseeable objections, so as to clarify its philosophical implications vis a vis rival interpretations. In particular I ask whether RQM presupposes a hidden recourse to both a duality of evolutions and of ontology (the relationality of quantum world and the intrinsicness of the classical world, which in the limit must be recovered from the former). I then concentrate on the pluralistic, antimonistic metaphysical consequences of the theory, due to the impossibility of assigning a state to the quantum universe. Finally, in the last section I note interesting consequences of RQM with respect to the possibility of defining a local, quantum relativistic becoming (in flat spacetimes).Given the difficulties of having the cosmic form of becoming that would be appropriate for priority monism, RQM seems to present an important advantage with respect to monistic views, at least as far as the possibility of explaining our experience of time is concerned.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

The collapse of supertasks

A supertask consists in the performance of an infinite number of actions in a finite time. I show that any attempt to carry out a supertask will produce a divergence of the curvature of spacetime, resulting in the formation of a black hole. I maintain that supertasks, contrarily to a popular view among philosophers, are physically impossible. Supertasks, literally, collapse under their own weight.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2014

Measurements according to Consistent Histories

We critically evaluate the treatment of the notion of measurement in the Consistent Histories approach to quantum mechanics. We find such a treatment unsatisfactory because it relies, often implicitly, on elements external to those provided by the formalism. In particular, we note that, in order for the formalism to be informative when dealing with measurement scenarios, one needs to assume that the appropriate choice of framework is such that apparatuses are always in states of well defined pointer positions after measurements. The problem is that there is nothing in the formalism to justify this assumption. We conclude that the Consistent Histories approach, contrary to what is claimed by its proponents, fails to provide a truly satisfactory resolution for the measurement problem in quantum theory.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

Between Being and Becoming: a meta-theoretical approach to irreversibility

The relationship between reversible-dynamical and irreversible-thermodynamic descriptions is analyzed from a meta-theoretical point of view. A network of inter-theoretical relations is drawn by means of asymptotic relations and complementarity. It is argued that the "paradox" between micro-reversibility and macro-irreversibility can be overcome by assuming a meta-complementarity relation existing between different levels of physical description, preserving a realist conception.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

Atomism and Relationalism as guiding principles for Quantum Gravity

The research in quantum gravity has jauntily grown in the recent years, intersecting with conceptual and philosophical issues that have a long history. In this paper I analyze the conceptual basis on which Loop Quantum Gravity has grown, the way it deals with some classical problems of philosophy of science and the main methodological and philosophical assumptions on which it is based. In particular, I emphasize the importance that atomism (in the broadest sense) and relationalism have had in the construction of the theory.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

The High-Energy Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

We address the issue of the interpretation of quantum mechanics by asking why the issue never arises in the description of high-energy interactions. We argue that several tenets of quantum mechanics, specifically the collapse of the wave function, follow directly once one accepts the essential randomness of fundamental interaction events. We then show that scale separation of fundamental interactions ensures that decoherent measurement can be unambiguously separated from the random quantum events. Finally, we argue that the fundamental symmetries of space and time guarantee the existence of a unique preferred basis. We argue that this set of ideas might lead to an interpretation of quantum mechanics, or rather, show in which sense an "interpretation" is (or is not) necessary.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

Dating the fall of Babylon and Ur thanks to Astronomical Events

The traditional date of 1595 BCE for the destruction of Babylon by the Hittite king Mursili I is accepted by most historians for many years despite notable controversies. This pivotal date is considered crucial to the various calculations of the early chronology of the ancient Near East. According to the Venus Tablet (Enuma Anu Enlil 63) which describes the rising and setting of Venus during the reign of Ammisaduqa, there are only 4 possibilities implying 4 dates for the destruction of Ur (1912, 1944, 2004, 2064 BCE) but a tablet of astronomical omens (Enuma Anu Enlil 20,21) mentions a lunar eclipse, dated 14/III/48, at the end of the reign of Shulgi and a lunar eclipse, dated 14/XII/24, at the end of the reign of Ibbi-Sin. Over the period 2200-1850 BCE there are only 3 pairs of eclipses, spaced by 42 years, matching the description of astronomical omens but only 1 agreeing with the previous 4 dates. The second way to check the date for the fall of Babylon is to rebuild the chronology of this period thanks to synchronisms dated by astronomy from Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Israelite chronologies which provide synchronisms that can be dated independently. The Mesopotamian chronology of this period is reconstructed using the number of Assyrian eponyms (1 a year) and the length of Babylonian reigns combined with the set of synchronisms among Assyrian and Babylonian kings in Annals. During the reign of Assur-dan I (1179-1133) eponyms began on 1 Nisan instead of 1 Sippu, but Assyrian lunar years without intercalation remained the norm until Tiglath-pileser I. As the Babylonian year began on 1st Nisan (just after the spring equinox), Assyrian years coincided with Babylonian lunar years with intercalation, thus the period between Assur-dan I and Tiglath-pileser I was therefore transitional. Owing to the Babylonian chronology and synchronisms it is possible to date other chronologies.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

"Science in Tales": Analysis of the images of scientist in young people's fictional literature

In the research field on the "images of scientists" that appear in fictional literature, we focus on a set of tales produced by students of secondary school. Our aim is to connect some traits of the stereotypical scientist that appear in those texts with the traits underlying other cultural productions, since those productions may constitute the probable source of the stereotype. Many common representations of the scientist emerge from an image of science that is inadequate from the point of view of science teaching. It correlates to a lack of interest towards science courses. This lack of interest would contribute to stagnation in the number of students pursuing science and technology careers in Ibero-America in general and especially in Argentina.

physics.pop-ph↗
arXiv2013

Aurorae in Australian Aboriginal Traditions

Transient celestial phenomena feature prominently in the astronomical knowledge and traditions of Aboriginal Australians. In this paper, I collect accounts of the Aurora Australis from the literature regarding Aboriginal culture. Using previous studies of meteors, eclipses, and comets in Aboriginal traditions, I anticipate that the physical properties of aurora, such as their generally red colour as seen from southern Australia, will be associated with fire, death, blood, and evil spirits. The survey reveals this to be the case and also explores historical auroral events in Aboriginal cultures, aurorae in rock art, and briefly compares Aboriginal auroral traditions with other global indigenous groups, including the Maori of New Zealand.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

On the construction of a psychologically based, general theory of observation: an introduction

The perception-related origins of physical measures and standards are considered within the framework of the general observer theory. The impact of observer characteristics on the development of observer-centric physics, physical concepts and metrics are analyzed. A preliminary theoretical approach is suggested for the construction of a general observer theory and formulation of its relationship to observer-centered physical concepts and theories. The approach makes it possible to construct a theory of the observer, intrinsic in any theory of physics.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2014

Unified meta-theory of information, consciousness, time and the classical-quantum universe

As time advances in our perceived real world, existing information is preserved and new information is added to history. All the information that may ever be encoded in history must be about some fundamental, unique, atemporal and pre-physical structure: the bare world. Scientists invent model worlds to efficiently explain aspects of the real world. This paper explores the features of and relationships between the bare, real, and model worlds. Time -- past, present and future -- is naturally explained. Both quantum uncertainty and state reduction are needed for time to progress, since unpredictable new information must be added to history. Deterministic evolution preserves existing information. Finite, but steadily increasing, information about the bare world is jointly encoded in equally uncertain spacetime geometry and quantum matter. Because geometry holds no information independent of matter, there is no need to quantize gravity. At the origin of time, information goes to zero and geometry and matter fade away.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

Oskar Klein and the fifth dimension

After a short biographical summary of the scientific life of Oskar Klein, a more detailed and hopefully didactic presentation of his derivation of the relativistic Klein-Gordon wave equation is given. It was a result coming out of his unification of electromagnetism and gravitation based on Einstein's general theory of relativity in a five-dimensional spacetime. This idea had previously been explored by Kaluza, but Klein made it more acceptable by suggesting that the extra dimension could be compactified and therefore remain unobservable when it is small enough.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2013

The many faces of the Bohr atom

The atomic model that Niels Bohr suggested in 1913 celebrated its greatest victories in connection with one-electron atoms. Among them were the isotopic spectral effect and what became known as Rydberg atoms, insights that were fully recognized only many years later. He considered the original ring model a first step towards an understanding of atomic structure, and during the following years he developed it into more ambitious models that, he hoped, would also describe many-electron atoms. His theory of the periodic system marked the culmination of the orbital atom within the framework of the old quantum theory. However, the theory would soon be replaced by more symbolic models that heralded the coming of the quantum-mechanical atom.

physics.hist-ph↗