Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 12/08/2007 08:56:10
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I really want to know what this is all about. Can someone please explain it to me in plain English that even a dumb beaver such as I can understand. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation)
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Individual objects at the quantum level for example electrons, protons, and whole atoms if they have exactly the same quantum state are totally indistinguishable. So if you can create circumstances where an object in a particular quantum state at one location can be replaced by another object at a different location in exactly the same quantum state you could be said to have "teleported" this quantum object from one location to another.
To do this requires the effective destruction of the quantum state of the initial object
The famous star trek transporter device is a conceptually extended version of this device whereby all the atoms of a person are teleported in exactly the same quantum states from one location to another. I say conceptual because the information involved and the risks of errors are such that it will always be impossible to perform this feat with any significantly macroscopic objects.
If you wished to perform a familiar feat on an alien planet It would be much better to send down an android simulacrum and link minds via a radio data link. This should work as long as you are not too far away with the mother ship. Much safer too because the androids could be disposable!
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I really want to know what this is all about. Can someone please explain it to me in plain English that even a dumb beaver such as I can understand. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_teleportation)
What Soul Surfer said but in more simple terms: to teleport you on another planet would mean:
1. record all the informations relative to the quantum state of every particle of your body.
2. kill you and destroy your body and recreate an exact copy of it in that planet, after have transmitted there all the recorded informations.
Question: would you do it? I certainly wouldn't. [^]
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Individual objects at the quantum level for example electrons, protons, and whole atoms if they have exactly the same quantum state are totally indistinguishable. So if you can create circumstances where an object in a particular quantum state at one location can be replaced by another object at a different location in exactly the same quantum state you could be said to have "teleported" this quantum object from one location to another.
To do this requires the effective destruction of the quantum state of the initial object
The famous star trek transporter device is a conceptually extended version of this device whereby all the atoms of a person are teleported in exactly the same quantum states from one location to another. I say conceptual because the information involved and the risks of errors are such that it will always be impossible to perform this feat with any significantly macroscopic objects.
If you wished to perform a familiar feat on an alien planet It would be much better to send down an android simulacrum and link minds via a radio data link. This should work as long as you are not too far away with the mother ship. Much safer too because the androids could be disposable!
Thanks.
With regard the Star Trek teleportation system, I read a sci-fi story in which such a device had been built but resulted in the destruction of the original. The copy of the person had all the memories and experiences of the original and so was indistinguishable. There was an author's note that such a device may 1 day be possible and he went into a brief description of the physics involved (very brief indeed).
Now, that kind of device would raise all sorts of ethical & theological questions.
And thank you, Lightarrow, who replied while I was posting this. You usurped what I put.