Many Interacting Worlds theory: Scientists propose existence and interaction of parallel worlds

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Posted by: Tarun Kumar
Griffith University academics are challenging the
foundations of quantum science with a radical
new theory based on the existence of, and
interactions between, parallel universes.
In a paper published in the prestigious journal
Physical Review X, Professor Howard Wiseman
and Dr Michael Hall from Griffith's Centre for
Quantum Dynamics, and Dr Dirk-Andre Deckert
from the University of California, take interacting
parallel worlds out of the realm of science fiction
and into that of hard science.
The team proposes that parallel universes really
exist, and that they interact. That is, rather than
evolving independently, nearby worlds influence
one another by a subtle force of repulsion. They
show that such an interaction could explain
everything that is bizarre about quantum
mechanics
Quantum theory is needed to explain how the
universe works at the microscopic scale, and is
believed to apply to all matter. But it is
notoriously difficult to fathom, exhibiting weird
phenomena which seem to violate the laws of
cause and effect.
As the eminent American theoretical physicist
Richard Feynman once noted: "I think I can
safely say that nobody understands quantum
mechanics."
However, the "Many-Interacting Worlds"
approach developed at Griffith University provides
a new and daring perspective on this baffling
field.
"The idea of parallel universes in quantum
mechanics has been around since 1957," says
Professor Wiseman.
"In the well-known "Many-Worlds Interpretation",
each universe branches into a bunch of new
universes every time a quantum measurement is
made. All possibilities are therefore realised – in
some universes the dinosaur-killing asteroid
missed Earth. In others, Australia was colonised
by the Portuguese.
"But critics question the reality of these other
universes, since they do not influence our
universe at all. On this score, our "Many
Interacting Worlds" approach is completely
different, as its name implies."
Professor Wiseman and his colleagues propose
that:
The universe we experience is just one of a
gigantic number of worlds. Some are almost
identical to ours while most are very
different;
All of these worlds are equally real, exist
continuously through time, and possess
precisely defined properties;
All quantum phenomena arise from a
universal force of repulsion between
'nearby' (i.e. similar) worlds which tends to
make them more dissimilar.
Dr Hall says the "Many-Interacting Worlds"
theory may even create the extraordinary
possibility of testing for the existence of other
worlds.
"The beauty of our approach is that if there is
just one world our theory reduces to Newtonian
mechanics, while if there is a gigantic number of
worlds it reproduces quantum mechanics," he
says.
"In between it predicts something new that is
neither Newton's theory nor quantum theory.
"We also believe that, in providing a new mental
picture of quantum effects, it will be useful in
planning experiments to test and exploit
quantum phenomena ."
The ability to approximate quantum evolution
using a finite number of worlds could have
significant ramifications in molecular dynamics,
which is important for understanding chemical
reactions and the action of drugs.
Professor Bill Poirier, Distinguished Professor of
Chemistry at Texas Tech University, has
observed: "These are great ideas, not only
conceptually, but also with regard to the new
numerical breakthroughs they are almost certain
to engender."
More information: Physical Review X ,
journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/
PhysRevX.4.041013
Provided by Griffith University