So, in quantum mechanics a particle (as a wave) is said to be in every conceivable position until it is observed. Einstein openly criticized this - what kind of observation is necessary? From whom exactly? I think it was him that joked, "would a sideways glance from a mouse suffice?".
This puzzled me for a long time. However, after some critical thought I realized that it has nothing to do with the particle being "observed" per say, by somebody or some thing. It has to do with whether THE PARTICLE'S POSITION HAS ANY RELEVANCE FOR ANYTHING. As soon as it does, then the wave, previously being everywhere possible, has to collapse at some particular point so the thing to which it is relevant for can be tested.
It is easy for all the scientists to confuse this with "observation", because once you observe something it necessarily becomes relevant, to how the rods and cones in your eyes act, among many other things. Observation means relevance, but you can have relevance without observation.
Now, as to WHY it only collapses when its position become relevant, and only then, that is something I'm still thinking about. I worry very much that we might never have a "why" other than "it just does".
This puzzled me for a long time. However, after some critical thought I realized that it has nothing to do with the particle being "observed" per say, by somebody or some thing. It has to do with whether THE PARTICLE'S POSITION HAS ANY RELEVANCE FOR ANYTHING. As soon as it does, then the wave, previously being everywhere possible, has to collapse at some particular point so the thing to which it is relevant for can be tested.
It is easy for all the scientists to confuse this with "observation", because once you observe something it necessarily becomes relevant, to how the rods and cones in your eyes act, among many other things. Observation means relevance, but you can have relevance without observation.
Now, as to WHY it only collapses when its position become relevant, and only then, that is something I'm still thinking about. I worry very much that we might never have a "why" other than "it just does".
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