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Step 3: What Quantum Mechanics Tells Us About Reality
Look at quantum mechanics and you can’t help but be startled. In fact, the word most commonly associated with the field is “weird.” There is a whole range of behaviors acted out by quantum particles that seem odd by conventional standards, but what confounds and frustrates physicists the most is the relationship between quantum mechanics and relativity. It seems that the marvelous equations of relativity that work so well on the grand scale of the universe don’t necessarily work at the microscopic level of quantum mechanics. And the mathematical laws of the quantum world don’t necessarily translate to the large-scale universe. However, there is one dynamic that elegantly unites these two worlds, and it brings us back to our earlier statement that relativity confers reality.
A quantum “entity” can be found in one of two states: all by itself, it is considered to be in a “wave function” state; under certain conditions, it “collapses” into a component state. Among the interesting things about the quantum world is the bizarre fact that in the wave function state – when it’s by itself – a quantum entity has no actual reality; it only has a (virtually infinite) range of possible characteristics. Some are more probable than others, but none is actualized by the entity all by itself. In physics terms, only when this quantum “wave function” encounters a measuring device does it actually “collapse” into a state of manifested reality. The action of this measurement causes the wave function collapse and “reality” is what is measured by the device. In other words, only when the quantum entity establishes a relationship with something else (by interaction or observation), does it manifest any of its possible characteristics. Only then does it emerge from the realm of possibilities into the realm of reality.(13)†
There are three important things to note from this event. First, the quantum entity does not exist by itself; it is nothing but a range of possibilities. Only when it establishes a relationship with the measuring device does it “collapse” into something with an actual characteristic.
Quantum mechanics also tells us that the particular reality the quantum entity manifests is determined as much by the nature of the measuring device as it is by the potential characteristics of the entity itself. For example, if a measured wave function shows up with a “spin-up” characteristic, that result comes from two factors: the “spin-up” capability of the wave function and the “spin-up” measuring capability of the device. The “spin-up” capability will not manifest if the device cannot measure it. This is important because it means that the quantum entity is defined by the combination of its own character potential and the character of the measuring device.
And finally, just as we’ve seen in relativity, the dynamic established between the quantum entity and the measuring device works both ways. The machine by itself isn’t actually a quantum entity measuring device; it is simply a bundle of possibilities that are yet to be manifest. “Quantum entity measuring device” would certainly be its highest probability, but it could also be a paperweight, a doorstop, a work of abstract art or a piece of junk. Not until the moment of measurement does it “collapse” into its reality as a measuring device. Obviously, the machine begins with a relatively stronger grasp on reality than does the quantum entity. The latter is perhaps the tiniest building block of the physical universe, while the former has already established an interconnected relationship of particles, atoms, molecules, circuits and metal pieces. This relationship of interconnected elements has already given it a level of reality. However, the machine still does not manifest its reality as “quantum entity measuring device” until the instant of measurement. In other words, it is the relationship established between the quantum entity and the device that confers a mutual reality onto them both.
The understanding to be taken from this phenomenon is this: both the quantum entity and the measuring device derive their realities from the relationship established between them, and the character of those realities is determined by the inherent natures each brings to the relationship.
Comparing Steps 2 and 3, we begin to see an essential truth emerging. Relativity theory shows us that an object is defined by its relationships with other objects in the universe. In fact, the reality of each individual object becomes better and better defined as more relationships are established. Quantum mechanics reveals the elemental basis of such defining relationships, as well as their two-way mechanism – both (actually all) parties of an interaction are defined by the relationship. It can be said that the reality of any object is the result of, or is created by, its various relationships. All else is just potential. Relativity confers reality.
†The quantum entity in its unrealized state (Y) will not eventually pop into one of its possible states (Yi) all by itself.