3,731 research outputs found
Interpreting Quantum Particles as Conceptual Entities
We elaborate an interpretation of quantum physics founded on the hypothesis
that quantum particles are conceptual entities playing the role of
communication vehicles between material entities composed of ordinary matter
which function as memory structures for these quantum particles. We show in
which way this new interpretation gives rise to a natural explanation for the
quantum effects of interference and entanglement by analyzing how interference
and entanglement emerge for the case of human concepts. We put forward a scheme
to derive a metric based on similarity as a predecessor for the structure of
'space, time, momentum, energy' and 'quantum particles interacting with
ordinary matter' underlying standard quantum physics, within the new
interpretation, and making use of aspects of traditional quantum axiomatics.
More specifically, we analyze how the effect of non-locality arises as a
consequence of the confrontation of such an emerging metric type of structure
and the remaining presence of the basic conceptual structure on the fundamental
level, with the potential of being revealed in specific situations.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur
Ephemeral properties and the illusion of microscopic particles
Founding our analysis on the Geneva-Brussels approach to quantum mechanics,
we use conventional macroscopic objects as guiding examples to clarify the
content of two important results of the beginning of twentieth century:
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen's reality criterion and Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle. We then use them in combination to show that our widespread belief
in the existence of microscopic particles is only the result of a cognitive
illusion, as microscopic particles are not particles, but are instead the
ephemeral spatial and local manifestations of non-spatial and non-local
entities
What is Quantum? Unifying Its Micro-Physical and Structural Appearance
We can recognize two modes in which 'quantum appears' in macro domains: (i) a
'micro-physical appearance', where quantum laws are assumed to be universal and
they are transferred from the micro to the macro level if suitable 'quantum
coherence' conditions (e.g., very low temperatures) are realized, (ii) a
'structural appearance', where no hypothesis is made on the validity of quantum
laws at a micro level, while genuine quantum aspects are detected at a
structural-modeling level. In this paper, we inquire into the connections
between the two appearances. We put forward the explanatory hypothesis that,
'the appearance of quantum in both cases' is due to 'the existence of a
specific form of organisation, which has the capacity to cope with random
perturbations that would destroy this organisation when not coped with'. We
analyse how 'organisation of matter', 'organisation of life', and 'organisation
of culture', play this role each in their specific domain of application, point
out the importance of evolution in this respect, and put forward how our
analysis sheds new light on 'what quantum is'.Comment: 10 page
On the use of the Fourier Transform to determine the projected rotational velocity of line-profile variable B stars
The Fourier Transform method is a popular tool to derive the rotational
velocities of stars from their spectral line profiles. However, its domain of
validity does not include line-profile variables with time-dependent profiles.
We investigate the performance of the method for such cases, by interpreting
the line-profile variations of spotted B stars, and of pulsating B tars, as if
their spectral lines were caused by uniform surface rotation along with
macroturbulence. We perform time-series analysis and harmonic least-squares
fitting of various line diagnostics and of the outcome of several
implementations of the Fourier Transform method. We find that the projected
rotational velocities derived from the Fourier Transform vary appreciably
during the pulsation cycle whenever the pulsational and rotational velocity
fields are of similar magnitude. The macroturbulent velocities derived while
ignoring the pulsations can vary with tens of km/s during the pulsation cycle.
The temporal behaviour of the deduced rotational and macroturbulent velocities
are in antiphase with each other. The rotational velocity is in phase with the
second moment of the line profiles. The application of the Fourier method to
stars with considerable pulsational line broadening may lead to an appreciable
spread in the values of the rotation velocity, and, by implication, of the
deduced value of the macroturbulence. These two quantities should therefore not
be derived from single snapshot spectra if the aim is to use them as a solid
diagnostic for the evaluation of stellar evolution models of slow to moderate
rotators.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Quantum Particles as Conceptual Entities: A Possible Explanatory Framework for Quantum Theory
We put forward a possible new interpretation and explanatory framework for
quantum theory. The basic hypothesis underlying this new framework is that
quantum particles are conceptual entities. More concretely, we propose that
quantum particles interact with ordinary matter, nuclei, atoms, molecules,
macroscopic material entities, measuring apparatuses, ..., in a similar way to
how human concepts interact with memory structures, human minds or artificial
memories. We analyze the most characteristic aspects of quantum theory, i.e.
entanglement and non-locality, interference and superposition, identity and
individuality in the light of this new interpretation, and we put forward a
specific explanation and understanding of these aspects. The basic hypothesis
of our framework gives rise in a natural way to a Heisenberg uncertainty
principle which introduces an understanding of the general situation of 'the
one and the many' in quantum physics. A specific view on macro and micro
different from the common one follows from the basic hypothesis and leads to an
analysis of Schrodinger's Cat paradox and the measurement problem different
from the existing ones. We reflect about the influence of this new quantum
interpretation and explanatory framework on the global nature and evolutionary
aspects of the world and human worldviews, and point out potential explanations
for specific situations, such as the generation problem in particle physics,
the confinement of quarks and the existence of dark matter.Comment: 45 pages, 10 figure
Environment-dependent prey capture in the Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus)
Few vertebrates capture prey in both the aquatic and the terrestrial environment due to the conflicting biophysical demands of feeding in water versus air. The Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) is known to be proficient at feeding in the terrestrial environment and feeds predominately in this environment. Given the considerable forward flow of water observed during the mouth-opening phase to assist with feeding on land, the mudskipper must alter the function of its feeding system to feed successfully in water. Here, we quantify the aquatic prey-capture kinematics of the mudskipper and compare this with the previously described pattern of terrestrial feeding. Prior to feeding in the aquatic environment, the gill slits open, allowing water to be expelled through the gill slits. The opposite happens in terrestrial feeding during which the gill slits remain closed at this point. In water, the expansive movements of the head are larger, amounting to a larger volume increase and are initiated slightly later than in the terrestrial environment. This implies the generation of strong suction flows when feeding in water. Consequently, the kinematic patterns of the hydrodynamic tongue during terrestrial feeding and aquatic suction feeding are similar, except for the amplitude of the volume increase and the active closing of the gill slits early during the terrestrial feeding strike. The mudskipper thus exhibits the capacity to change the kinematics of its feeding apparatus to enable successful prey capture in two disparate environments
Geometric Algebra Model of Distributed Representations
Formalism based on GA is an alternative to distributed representation models
developed so far --- Smolensky's tensor product, Holographic Reduced
Representations (HRR) and Binary Spatter Code (BSC). Convolutions are replaced
by geometric products, interpretable in terms of geometry which seems to be the
most natural language for visualization of higher concepts. This paper recalls
the main ideas behind the GA model and investigates recognition test results
using both inner product and a clipped version of matrix representation. The
influence of accidental blade equality on recognition is also studied. Finally,
the efficiency of the GA model is compared to that of previously developed
models.Comment: 30 pages, 19 figure
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