Quantum physics - the physics of ultra-tiny objects like atoms, molecules, and subatomic particles - is arguably the most successful theory in all of science. It predicts a stunning variety of phenomena to an extraordinary degree of accuracy, and its impact goes well beyond the world of the very small and into our everyday lives.
Yet at its foundation quantum physics is seriously flawed, the orthodox “Copenhagen interpretation” replacing locality with, in Einstein’s words, “spooky action at a distance”; it is at once fundamentally concerned with measurement but unable to define it.
We will discuss this and several other interpretations using physicist/philosopher Adam Becker’s fascinating book, "What is Real?". Please read Part 1 (of 3) for the first session. The fourth session will be a discussion with an expert in the field, TBD (possibly Adam Becker).
Craig Stephan, instructor, is a retired physicist who has led several study groups at OLLI, including ones on cosmology, the Higgs boson, and (concurrently) astrophysics. He is quite sure he does not have rocks in his head. This Study Group is for those 50 and over and meets select Mondays and Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00 pm on November 5, November 12, November 19, and November 25.