Action at a distance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven French
Keyword(s):  
Special Relativity ◽  
Quantum Entanglement ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Action At A Distance ◽  
Physical Interactions ◽  
Quantum Action ◽  
Physical Laws ◽  
Local Nature

Action at a distance is typically characterized in terms of some cause producing a spatially separated effect in the absence of any medium by which the causal interaction is transmitted. Historically it has been viewed with suspicion; Leibniz famously accused Newton of introducing ‘occult’ forces because according to his theory, gravity appeared to act at a distance. However, the grounds for ruling it out are not always so clear. One might insist that all forces are ‘contact forces’, but why should this be so? Alternatively, it could be argued that if action at a distance is accepted, then certain ‘facts’ about physical interactions would be left unexplained: the nature of Newton’s law of gravitation might be explicable if some underlying medium is presupposed, but otherwise it simply has to be accepted as a brute feature. But this assumes that the ‘nature’ of physical laws requires this sort of explanation. Finally, if it is acknowledged that such action at a distance cannot be instantaneous, on pain of violating Special Relativity, then it turns out that there are problems satisfying conservation of energy. Again, even this consequence can be side-stepped if one were to adopt an anti-realist view of energy. With the development of field theories and Einstein’s liberation of physics from the grip of the ether, it appeared that action at a distance had been pushed out of the picture by the beginning of the twentieth century. However, the non-local nature of quantum entanglement appears to have allowed it back in. Of course the form of this putative quantum action at a distance is very different from the classical kind: for one thing, it cannot be used instantaneously to send information and so there is still ‘peaceful co-existence’ with Special Relativity. Again, however, its acceptance depends on certain assumptions – on how one understands quantum entanglement, for example. Shifting the focus to violation of a form of ‘separability’ between systems, rather than locality, may allow us to accept quantum holism without having to swallow action at distance as well.

scholarly journals The Meta-Dynamic Nature of Consciousness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Barnden
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Physical Universe ◽  
Time Flow ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Physical Interactions ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Physical Laws ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Non Locality ◽  
Do So

How, if at all, consciousness can be part of the physical universe remains a baffling problem. This article outlines a new, developing philosophical theory of how it could do so, and offers a preliminary mathematical formulation of a physical grounding for key aspects of the theory. Because the philosophical side has radical elements, so does the physical-theory side. The philosophical side is radical, first, in proposing that the productivity or dynamism in the universe that many believe to be responsible for its systematic regularities is actually itself a physical constituent of the universe, along with more familiar entities. Indeed, it proposes that instances of dynamism can themselves take part in physical interactions with other entities, this interaction then being “meta-dynamism” (a type of meta-causation). Secondly, the theory is radical, and unique, in arguing that consciousness is necessarily partly constituted of meta-dynamic auto-sensitivity, in other words it must react via meta-dynamism to its own dynamism, and also in conjecturing that some specific form of this sensitivity is sufficient for and indeed constitutive of consciousness. The article proposes a way for physical laws to be modified to accommodate meta-dynamism, via the radical step of including elements that explicitly refer to dynamism itself. Additionally, laws become, explicitly, temporally non-local in referring directly to quantity values holding at times prior to a given instant of application of the law. The approach therefore implicitly brings in considerations about what information determines states. Because of the temporal non-locality, and also because of the deep connections between dynamism and time-flow, the approach also implicitly connects to the topic of entropy insofar as this is related to time.

scholarly journals The Meta-Dynamic Nature of Consciousness

Entropy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 1433
Author(s):  
John A. Barnden
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Physical Universe ◽  
Time Flow ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Physical Interactions ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Physical Laws ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Non Locality ◽  
Do So

How, if at all, consciousness can be part of the physical universe remains a baffling problem. This article outlines a new, developing philosophical theory of how it could do so, and offers a preliminary mathematical formulation of a physical grounding for key aspects of the theory. Because the philosophical side has radical elements, so does the physical-theory side. The philosophical side is radical, first, in proposing that the productivity or dynamism in the universe that many believe to be responsible for its systematic regularities is actually itself a physical constituent of the universe, along with more familiar entities. Indeed, it proposes that instances of dynamism can themselves take part in physical interactions with other entities, this interaction then being “meta-dynamism” (a type of meta-causation). Secondly, the theory is radical, and unique, in arguing that consciousness is necessarily partly constituted of meta-dynamic auto-sensitivity, in other words it must react via meta-dynamism to its own dynamism, and also in conjecturing that some specific form of this sensitivity is sufficient for and indeed constitutive of consciousness. The article proposes a way for physical laws to be modified to accommodate meta-dynamism, via the radical step of including elements that explicitly refer to dynamism itself. Additionally, laws become, explicitly, temporally non-local in referring directly to quantity values holding at times prior to a given instant of application of the law. The approach therefore implicitly brings in considerations about what information determines states. Because of the temporal non-locality, and also because of the deep connections between dynamism and time-flow, the approach also implicitly connects to the topic of entropy insofar as this is related to time.

“Non-locality”

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Healey
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Entanglement ◽  
Quantum States ◽  
Entangled States ◽  
Entangled Quantum States ◽  
Action At A Distance ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Non Locality

Quantum entanglement is popularly believed to give rise to spooky action at a distance of a kind that Einstein decisively rejected. Indeed, important recent experiments on systems assigned entangled states have been claimed to refute Einstein by exhibiting such spooky action. After reviewing two considerations in favor of this view I argue that quantum theory can be used to explain puzzling correlations correctly predicted by assignment of entangled quantum states with no such instantaneous action at a distance. We owe both considerations in favor of the view to arguments of John Bell. I present simplified forms of these arguments as well as a game that provides insight into the situation. The argument I give in response turns on a prescriptive view of quantum states that differs both from Dirac’s (as stated in Chapter 2) and Einstein’s.

scholarly journals FORCES BETWEEN ELECTRIC CHARGES IN MOTION: RUTHERFORD SCATTERING, CIRCULAR KEPLERIAN ORBITS, ACTION-AT-A-DISTANCE AND NEWTON'S THIRD LAW IN RELATIVISTIC CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (02) ◽  
pp. 327-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. FIELD
Keyword(s):  
Special Relativity ◽  
Small Angle ◽  
Classical Electrodynamics ◽  
Classical Electromagnetism ◽  
Newtonian Gravitation ◽  
Keplerian Orbits ◽  
Rutherford Scattering ◽  
Action At A Distance ◽  
Electrodynamic Theory ◽  
Third Law

Standard formulae of classical electromagnetism for the forces between electric charges in motion derived from retarded potentials are compared with those obtained from a recently developed relativistic classical electrodynamic theory with an instantaneous intercharge force. Problems discussed include small angle Rutherford scattering, Jackson's recent "torque paradox" and circular Keplerian orbits. Results consistent with special relativity are obtained only with an instantaneous interaction. The impossibility of stable circular motion with retarded fields in either classical electromagnetism or Newtonian gravitation is demonstrated.

scholarly journals USE OF MOBILE DEVICE SENSORS TO CONDUCT THE PHYSICAL EXPERIMENT

2019 ◽  
pp. 345-354
Author(s):  
Sergii Tereschuk ◽  
Vira Kolmakova
Keyword(s):  
Stem Education ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Physical Experiment ◽  
Science Journal ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Physical Experiments ◽  
Physical Laws ◽  
Physical Phenomena

The concept of "sensor" in the system of physical experiment at school is considered in the article. The possibility of using sensors in physics lessons is substantiated: transformation of an input signal into an output is accompanied by transformation of one type of energy into another (according to the law of conservation of energy), and the functioning of the sensors are based on physical phenomena (physical effects or principles), which are described by the relevant physical laws. The article deals with the methodical aspects of using the Google Science Journal mobile application in physics lessons. This application allows you to use the sensors of your mobile device for a physical experiment. As an example we consider the frontal laboratory work "Determination of the period of oscillation of the mathematical pendulum". The method of its carrying out is offered in two approaches: the first one involves the traditional technique of conducting the experiment, and the second approach is using the mobile application Google Science Journal. The article shows that the use of smartphone sensors in physics lessons has perspectives in the context of STEM education. Thus, the use of the considered application is of current importance and requires further scientific and methodological research on its use in the high school physical experimentation system. The Science Journal mobile application can be used to connect external sensors, which will have a positive impact on the introduction of STEM education, and to use Arduino in the demonstration of physical experiments by a physics teacher. Connecting sensors using an Arduino microcontroller is particularly promising in creative lab work on physics.

scholarly journals Ontology of a Wavefunction from the Perspective of an Invariant Proper Time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Yasmineh
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Special Relativity ◽  
Proper Time ◽  
Finite Density ◽  
Confining Potential ◽  
Standard Time ◽  
Related Matter ◽  
Local Mechanism ◽  
Non Local ◽  
The Individual

All the arguments of a wavefunction are defined at the same instant implying a notion of simultaneity. In a somewhat related matter, certain phenomena in quantum mechanics seem to have non-local causal relations. Both concepts are in contradiction with special relativity. We propose to define the wavefunction with respect to the invariant proper time of special relativity instead of standard time. Moreover, we shall adopt the original idea of Schrodinger suggesting that the wavefunction represents an ontological cloud-like object that we shall call ‘individual fabric’ that has a finite density amplitude vanishing at infinity. Consequently, measurement can be assimilated to a confining potential that triggers an inherent non-local mechanism within the individual fabric. It is formalised by multiplying the wavefunction with a localising gaussian as in the GRW theory but in a deterministic manner.

2. Planet Earth

2018 ◽  
pp. 6-21
Author(s):  
William Lowrie
Keyword(s):  
Big Bang ◽  
Chandler Wobble ◽  
Planetary Motion ◽  
Milankovitch Cycles ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Law ◽  
Physical Laws ◽  
The Big Bang

Two important physical laws determine the behaviour of the Earth as a planet and the relationship between the Sun and its planets: the law of conservation of energy and the law of conservation of angular momentum. ‘Planet Earth’ explains these laws along with the ‘Big Bang’ theory that describes the formation of the solar system: the Sun; the eight planets divided into the inner, terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and Mars) and the outer, giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune); and the Trans-Neptunian objects that lie beyond Neptune. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, the Chandler wobble, the effects of the Moon and Jupiter on the Earth’s rotation, and the Milankovitch cycles of climatic variation are also discussed.

scholarly journals Bhabha scattering in very special relativity at finite temperature

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alesandro Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
Faqir C. Khanna
Keyword(s):  
Differential Cross Section ◽  
Special Relativity ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Differential Cross ◽  
Local Form ◽  
Bhabha Scattering ◽  
Thermo Field Dynamics ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Very Special Relativity

Abstract In this paper the differential cross section for Bhabha scattering in the very special relativity (VSR) framework is calculated. The main characteristic of the VSR is to modify the gauge invariance. This leads to different types of interactions appearing in a non-local form. In addition, using the Thermo Field Dynamics formalism, thermal corrections for the differential cross section of Bhabha scattering in VSR framework are obtained.

scholarly journals Interacting vorticity waves as an instability mechanism for magnetohydrodynamic shear instabilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 767 ◽  
pp. 199-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Heifetz ◽  
J. Mak ◽  
J. Nycander ◽  
O. M. Umurhan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Phase Locking ◽  
Unstable Flow ◽  
Background Magnetic Field ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Action At A Distance ◽  
Shear Instabilities ◽  
Basic States ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Stable Flow

AbstractThe interacting vorticity wave formalism for shear flow instabilities is extended here to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) setting, to provide a mechanistic description for stabilising and destabilising shear instabilities by the presence of a background magnetic field. The interpretation relies on local vorticity anomalies inducing a non-local velocity field, resulting in action at a distance. It is shown here that the waves supported by the system are able to propagate vorticity via the Lorentz force, and waves may interact. The existence of instability then rests upon whether the choice of basic state allows for phase locking and constructive interference of the vorticity waves via mutual interaction. To substantiate this claim, we solve the instability problem of two representative basic states, one where a background magnetic field stabilises an unstable flow and the other where the field destabilises a stable flow, and perform relevant analyses to show how this mechanism operates in MHD.

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