Actually a good point, tho. And also a good thought: If there is no special direction, what would be up? And that’s where quantum mechanics gets even weirder: It’s either up or down in the direction you measure.
Comment on Electrons
marcos@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Up and down in what direction, electron?!?
Up and down on what direction?!?
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 5 weeks ago
i_love_FFT@lemmy.ml 5 weeks ago
It’s either up or down whatever the direction.
If you measure 100%up-0%down then you rotate your frame of reference by 90°, you automatically get 50%up-50%down… (iirc)
Ziglin@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Just in case it wasn’t clear you can’t measure anything other than “100%” up or down spin. The quantum state of it being 50/50 is described by 1/sqrt{2} times the up and down vector, when you measure it you have a probability of getting either result calculated by the square of the absolute (||psi||^2) that way you avoid getting a complex probability.
btw I was too scared to try in case it doesn’t but can I use LaTeX in Lemmy comments? $\psi$
i_love_FFT@lemmy.ml 5 weeks ago
True! Thanks for the clarification, it’s been a while since i played with the maths of quantum physics!
After you measure a spin as 100% up, the state will be close to that for a while, si the next measurement has higher chance of being up, with this probability slowly decreasing with time.
Ziglin@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
At least in the Stern-Gerlach experiment it’s relative to the magnetic field.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 5 weeks ago
Yeah, quantum mechanics lingo: measurement = interaction
jjagaimo@lemmy.ca 5 weeks ago
Yes and no
AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Relative to A’Tuin
smeg@feddit.uk 5 weeks ago
My favourite quark is the hubwise quark, closely followed by the widdershins quark