Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
typodupeerror delete not in

+-   Quantum test found for mathematical undecidability-> on Tuesday December 02 2008, @08:22AM KentuckyFC

Submitted by KentuckyFC on Tuesday December 02 2008, @08:22AM
math
KentuckyFC writes "Philosophers have long wondered at the profound link between mathematics and physics but how deep does this connection go? Pretty deep according to the results of a quantum experiment which explores the nature of mathematical undecidability. Here's how: any logical system must be based on axioms, which are propositions that are defined to be true. A proposition is logically independent from these axioms if it can neither be proved nor disproved from them; mathematicians say it is undecidable. In the experiment researchers encoded a set of axioms as quantum states. A particular measurement on this system can then be thought of as a proposition which, if undecidable, yields a random result, just as they found. "This sheds new light on the (mathematical) origin of quantum randomness in these measurements," say the researchers (abstract)."
Link to Original Source
submission

This discussion was created for logged-in users only, but now has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.
They also serve who only stand and wait. -- John Milton