In the world of physics, we are immersed in wonders and existential questions that have long been the focal point of interest for the greatest scientists. This article highlights the journey of the famous physicist John Archibald Wheeler, who unleashed innovative theories that reshaped our understanding of space and time. From his childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, his deep questions about the end of things led him to a profound and radical philosophical exploration, as he transcended the boundaries of general relativity and rethought fundamental concepts such as gravity and time. This article provides us with an opportunity to explore the dimensions of his theories, including how the interaction of the observer with quantum phenomena reflects in the structure of the universe. Join us on this intellectual journey to unveil Wheeler’s revolutionary ideas and how they enriched our understanding of the universe around us.
The History and Role of John Archibald Wheeler in Physics
John Archibald Wheeler is one of the greatest minds in the history of physics; he did not win a Nobel Prize, but he enriched scientific knowledge thanks to his unique vision and creativity. Born in the twentieth century, he played a pivotal role in the development of many branches of physics such as nuclear physics, general relativity, and quantum physics. He studied under the supervision of Niels Bohr and interacted with great scientists like Albert Einstein. He was an excellent teacher, inspiring many students who became prominent names in the scientific world. Through his deep thinking and precise observations, Wheeler contributed to our understanding of how the universe and the world around us are formed.
Wheeler was particularly interested in the question of the origin of space and time, where he posed profound questions about what happens at the end of things. His interests emerged in the 1950s when he began to deduce from his thoughts that what we call matter is simply a form of space and time. He concluded that gravity is not just a force that affects bodies, but a interaction between energy, time, and space. Through these hypotheses, Wheeler presented the concept of “genus” as one of the proposals that highlight this, which made him question how time and space affect our understanding of the universe.
New Concepts: From Spacetime to Black Holes
Throughout his scientific career, Wheeler developed new ideas about space and time. In 1960, he proposed the idea that black holes are not merely mistakes in equations, but a reality that can exist in the universe. He referred to this concept as “black holes,” which later became a subject of serious study in physics. Through his studies, Wheeler discovered that black holes possess unique characteristics that lead to the collapse of space and time around them.
Wheeler believed that black holes are points where gravity surpasses everything, even light, making them mysterious regions in the universe. He posed new questions about what happens inside black holes and how time and space respond to cosmic changes. Through this perspective, the idea of black holes led to a revolution in our understanding of the universe, as it allowed scientists to think of the three traditional dimensions of time and space as dimensions that shorten at certain points.
The Impact of Quantum and Informational Liquids on the Structure of the Universe
Wheeler continued to develop his theories about space and time, questioning the possibility of a “pre-structure” underlying time and space, which led him to an intriguing idea related to information. He believed that instead of materials being the fundamental component of the universe, information might be the true essence. Everything we know about the material world can be interpreted in the context of information and choices.
In his mind, if information plays such a central role, it raises a new concept of how we understand the world. The idea that the universe is not static, but constantly changing based on how we interact with and understand it. This revolutionary belief could lead to the redefinition of many established physical laws. Information represents a crucial part of our experiences and understanding of reality, and Wheeler’s theory of information suggests that we are an integral part of the structure of the universe.
What
Behind Time and Space: The Continuous Inquiries Until the End
Despite all his achievements, Wheeler realized that there were more questions that required answers. With each discovery, his knowledge increased that the universe holds secrets that necessitate a distinction between fundamental laws and established notions. He constantly wondered, “What happens when we reach the end of things?” a question that emerged in many of his articles and works.
In his attempts to unveil the unknown, Wheeler considered that there is a deeper reality represented by a set of theories and concepts that remain ambiguous. This reality might be space or matter, or even information that extends across dimensions and time categories. He was extremely interested in our need to engage with the universe as “participants” rather than being merely isolated observers. This approach illustrates Wheeler’s quest to uncover the deep relationship between consciousness and the universe, highlighting how the concept of “participatory universe” can change our perspective of the world.
Understanding Quantum Phenomena and the Observer Effect
The phenomenon of particle interference is one of the fundamental concepts in quantum mechanics. This phenomenon occurs through the double-slit experiment, where particles such as photons are sent through a screen with two slits. When particles are allowed to pass unobserved, an interference pattern forms on a photographic plate, indicating that the particles behaved as waves, taking both paths at the same time. This result challenges the traditional understanding of action and observation, as the interference phenomenon disappears when attempting to measure which slit the particle passed through. This raises questions about the observer and their role, as it seems that reality is only realized through the act of observation.
American scientist John presented one of the intriguing ideas on this subject, questioning whether what happens in the past could be influenced by what we measure in the present. The delayed-choice experiment allows scientists to make measurements after photons have passed through the slits. If their measurements affect past results, this implies that the observer’s selection has an impact on time itself. The idea of “participation in the observer” underscores the critical importance of understanding and observation in shaping what is considered reality.
When scientists delay their decision on how to measure a particular experiment, it opens the door to new thinking about the nature of time itself. This elevates quantum studies to a deeper level where the concept of being intertwines with existence. The intriguing idea posed by Wheeler that “the present participates in creating the past” suggests that natural laws seem to require the presence of the observer, complicating the conditions that human knowledge must understand and discuss.
Developments Arising from the Delayed-choice Idea
Developments arising from the delayed-choice idea have led to the emergence of new fields of research. Wheeler’s impact was profound in the field of quantum information, where physical properties appeared as answers to open questions from the participating parties. This line of thinking led to the development of ideas such as “quantum bits.”
Quantum information engineering represents a new trend where quantum technology has significantly influenced technological developments, such as quantum computing and quantum teleportation, enabling faster and more secure information transfer. This spark of new ideas has opened a broader horizon for human understanding of modern physics and provided new tools to address deeper questions about the universe.
Although Wheeler advanced our understanding of the universe through these new sciences, he still grappled with questions about how to connect those results among observers. Since his early days, he was interested in the relationship between space and time with quantum reality, only to find that despite the cosmic partnership of viewpoints, there is no guaranteed agreement among observers’ perspectives. This led him to pose questions about the meaning of existence in general. These questions constituted a real challenge for human understanding, making it difficult for him to accept the idea that each observer has their own reality. Those outcomes became a whirlwind of reflections on the true nature of being.
Challenges
The Existence of the Universe and Its Relationship with the Observer
Wheeler’s philosophical questions about the concept of time and existence have formed a rich core for many discussions. Over time, it has become evident that the challenges related to the theory of collective intelligence and communication between observers are fundamental elements to understanding the universe. There has been a period of intellectual transformations and a search for the positives between individual existence and collective existence. Anyone who has attempted to delve into what observation means for the universe has faced the dilemma of the lack of consensus among observers.
This reflects the interactive nature of our universe, where each observer plays a role in shaping what can be considered reality. For instance, in the case of the double-slit experiment, if there are a large number of observers, their perspectives will not provide an automatic consensus on truths, but rather reality will be shaped based on the quality and methods of personal observation. Ultimately, Wheeler presents perceptions that immerse two important questions: How do we share this reality? And what is the common program behind quantum study?
Over time, Wheeler became preoccupied with the details of how to organize the ideas of each observer. While elevating the idea that the observer influences the truth, he found himself concerned about the conditions that make this influence consistent with the existence of others. Between the concept of individual existence and collective existence, Wheeler presented remarkable results, indicating that our reality is not as we believe, but is a product of a delicate interaction among all observing processes.
Source link: https://www.quantamagazine.org/john-wheeler-saw-the-tear-in-reality-20240925/
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