Book · Language · Media · Problem

Advancing QFT visualization – further demystification?

[Draft 1-6-2025] Yeah, quantum physics is weird. What might be called Weirdness 1.0 (QM), 1.1 (QED), 1.2 (QCD), etc., as I’ve written about, have embedded frozen tropes in the popular psyche. But can’t we do better? When physicists talk about analogies – use everyday language (terms) to talk about the quantum realm – and connections… Continue reading Advancing QFT visualization – further demystification?

Book · Film · Media · TV

The romance of FTL, a stark reality

[Draft] The beckoning frontier … the adventure … “not in my lifetime, you say … or for generations” … and live like what? … well, maybe I’ll pass on that Golden Ticket … Faster-than-light travel (FTL) is a common plot device in science fiction, with a long history in books, short stories, drama series, and… Continue reading The romance of FTL, a stark reality

Language · Media · Problem

Wavepackets and uncertainty principle

[Preliminary 11-11-2023] [“Quantum foundations” series] Table of contents Context This post was inspired by Don Lincoln’s latest YouTube video (below). Insights from quantum field theory (QFT) have helped me better understand strange aspects of quantum theory [1]. In particular, leaving behind notions of point particles and wave-particle duality, and just going with fields and wavepackets in… Continue reading Wavepackets and uncertainty principle

General · Media · Problem

Island universe RIP – impact of awe-inspiring scales?

Thinking of the latest announcements for Nobel prizes: physics, chemistry, peace … Can the mind-boggling, awe-inspiring scale of the universe improve the odds of our collective survival? An expanding overview effect? “I believe our future depends powerfully on how well we understand this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the… Continue reading Island universe RIP – impact of awe-inspiring scales?

General · Media · Quote

Star stuff within us – we are stardust

• “We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon” — Woodstock by Joni Mitchell as performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. • Space.com > “Are we really made of ‘star stuff’ and what does that even mean? (video)” by Robert Lea (August 21, 2023) – These inspiring words from Carl… Continue reading Star stuff within us – we are stardust

General · Language · Media · Problem

The degree of entanglement – quantifying an entangled system

INTRODUCTION Remember pet rocks? So, what if someone gave you a gift, claiming it was even better than a Moon rock or Mars pebble. Something almost magical. An expensive novelty item. As advertised on TV: “Tangled Blocks” … go quantum! do Einstein spooky action! each block contains a particle entangled with one in the other… Continue reading The degree of entanglement – quantifying an entangled system

Diagram · General · Language · Problem

Special relativity’s fundamental defect – ether redux

The incompleteness of relativity and quantum theories So, for me, there’s always been a nagging shortfall of visualization for the major theories of modern physics: Relativity and Quantum theories. Successful theories indeed. But a focus on the mathematics, with some hand-waving surrounding implicit assumptions (or definitions), conveying a flawless formulation in popular presentations. As discussed… Continue reading Special relativity’s fundamental defect – ether redux

General · Language · Media · Site

Imaging at the molecular and atomic level

Here’re some articles on advanced microscopy research, including quantum microscopy by coincidence. Not included (as yet) below is an article about nano fab of crystal lattices – direct deposition of individual atoms at lattice sites vs. more conventional doping (impurity) techniques. 1 . Studying ultrafast molecular dynamics • Phys.org > “Ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy: Watching molecules… Continue reading Imaging at the molecular and atomic level