Multiple selves in multiverse?

Professor Max Tegmark has proposed a thought experiment similar to Schrödinger’s cat. He asked us to imagine that a machine gun is attached to a device that measures the z-spin of a sub-atomic particle. All sub atomic particles have this, and this can be either ‘up’ or ‘down’. However the direction of spin is entirely random and as such cannot be predicted for any single particle. If the device ‘senses’ a particle that has ‘down’ spin then it instructs the machine gun to load a single live bullet into the stock. If the particle spin is detected as being ‘up’ the gunstock remains empty with the weapon just making an audible click.

In order to test the gun an experimenter stands in front of the gun and asks her assistant to pull the trigger. The assistant nervously follows the instruction and presses the trigger. The device detects that the spin of the particle is up and as such does not load a bullet into the stock. The gun makes an audible click and the experimenter remains alive.

The experimenter suggests that they now go through a further nine repeats of the experiment. She stands in front of the gun and on each occasion the stock remains empty. After the tenth repeat she tells her assistant that it is time to end the test and go home for the evening. The experimenter feels satisfied that she has proven to herself that the Many Worlds Interpretation has been proven correct and invites her relieved assistant out for a quick celebratory drink.

Now lets go back to the start of the experiment and experience it from the worldview of the assistant. He follows the instructions as given by his boss. He presses the trigger three times and on each occasion the gun clicks. However on the fourth attempt the sub-atomic particle has down spin, a bullet falls into the stock and the trigger engages. A bullet flies out of the barrel and crashes through the skull of the experimenter killing her instantly. In a blind panic he telephones the police and is arrested for murder.

What has happened here? Is the experimenter alive or dead, did they go for a drink or did the assistant face a murder charge? The answer is that in the same way that Schrödinger’s cat is both alive and dead in different universes so is the experimenter. In her universe she did not die but in the universe of her assistant she did. The crucial point here is that the only reality that the experimenter can possibly perceive is the one in which she survives.

This observer-based universe ties in with another theory of quantum physics - something called The Copenhagen Interpretation. This idea, suggested by Nils Bohr states that without a conscious observer matter does not exist. It needs an observer to bring about what is termed 'collapse the wave function'. In short without an observer matter never comes into existence. So your universe needs you to continue existeng and that goes for all of us. Everett's Many-Worlds Interpretation is also known as 'The Many-Minds Interpretation'. This suggests that the multiverse is closely related to consciousness (check out the work of Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff for a nice twist on this theme).

For the logical conclusion with regard to this I suggest you check out
my website and my (very) active blogsite

I believe in time travel and mutiple universes. I believe that our main contact point between the universes and time travel are found in dreams. It is amazing really that in a dream one can see and feel everything as if it was real. For me, when I dream, if enter into any room that has pink walls, I suddenly becaome aware that I am in an alternate state. I have no explaination for this or why the color pink, yet it happens to me. While in this state once, I decided to experiment. I went to a nearby window overlooking a driveway I never saw before. I noticed the sun coming through the window as I looked at the people walking below me. I put my hands into the suns rays and felt it's warmth. I was amazed at this. After awhile of doing things in that state I awoke to go thought the day in my body as me in this world. Could it be that other worlds are actually possible in the dream state?

Time travel I believe is done in the mind so far. Forward and backwards.

[edit on 12-12-2007 by Fromabove]

reply to post by Fromabove


well i think you need to do some research on dreams.
let's keep an open possibility on what you said.
But let's talk about dreams. What are dreams??
Dreams are the inconcious mind placing images or how can i call it (scenarios)
it's not like you deceide what you dream, it's about something happened/is happening that makes you dream a sertain scenario.
like for example let's say you were sleeping and you turned over and are sleeping on top of your hand. Well now your brain begins a scenatio in witch you may dream that you had an accident and your hand was stuck bla bla bla.
and when you wake up you feel your hand hurting a lot and you don't know why.

sorry for the horrible language and for not being able to explain myself correctly due to some lack of knowledge But i will search into it as so i recommend you do the same too. Dreams are something the mind shows you, because of some reason. check it up


greetings

[edit on 16-12-2007 by kinglatin]

reply to post by Anthony Peake


Anthony, nice post mate Well done

It is after midnight here, so I will enjoy reading your site, blog and ideas over the next day or two...

If your post here is any indication, I'm in for some major brain pain

But eh, who doesn't love that ?

Peace