vol VII: Notes

2017

Notes

Sunday 30 July 2017 - Saturday 5 August 2017

[Notebook: DB 81: Scientific theology]

[page 82]

Sunday 30 July 2017

Auyang page 38: 3 outstanding symmetry principles:
a) principle of special relativity; b) principle of general relativity; c) principle of local symmetry [nothing about scale invariance of quantum mechanics]. Auyang: How is Quantum Field Theory Possible?

page 43: Electromagnetic field is a new form of matter [is it 'real' or just photons, an old form of matter?]

page 45: matter fields — fermions
interaction fields — bosons

page 47: 'Fields are continuous but not amorphous; a field comprises discrete and concrete point entities, each indivisible but each having intrinsic characteristics.'

This seems to be a fundamental contradiction dating since earliest times that a continuum can carry information. Perhaps this is the root error to deal with in christian theology.

'The world of fields is full, in contrast to the mechanistic world, in which particles are separated by empty space across which forces act instantaneously at a distance.' The key to the real world is logical continuity, which is a form of continuity based on discrete logical operations [is logical continuity instantaneous at a distance? No, particle contact.].

An essay on the absurdity of mathematics.

Auyang page 50: 'Continuous quantum systems constitute the basic ontology of the world, according to contemporary physics.' And it seems to me to be completely wrong, although I am a very long way from being able to provide a consistent alternative. My basic plan is to replace geometric continuity with logical continuity and recognise that a real physical continuum carries no information.

[page 83]

Reading Auyang rather incomprehendingly as I have the flu, seems to make the absurdity of physical continuity as an explanation of the world patently obvious.

Auyang page 51: '. . . causality demands that physical effects propagate from point to point with finite velocity.' Causality also demands error free communication which demands quantization (Shannon) so that the system cannot be truly continuous. Claude Shannon: Communication in the presence of noise

page 53: '. . . field theories say particles are epiphenomena and the concept of particles is not central to the description of fields'. Nevertheless particles are the only things that we observe, they are the phenomena. The fields are products of imagination given so many degrees of freedom that they can explain anything.

page 57: . . . the whole point of symmetries is to suppress the undesirable effects of coordinates.' No. There are real symmetries such as conservation of energy.

Goldfarb: Faction Michael Goldfarb: Is the American republic built to withstand a malevolent president?

Orwell: 'To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle.' George Orwell: In front of your nose

Signalling through the Central Nervous System is but an infinitesimal fraction of the signalling between cells in the body, either by contact or by hormones and other molecules released into the blood, lymph and other intra and intercellular fluids that serve as communication networks within living systems.

Monday 31 July 2017

Tuesday 1 August 2017

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Thursday 3 August 2017

Friday 4 August 2017

Saturday 5 August 2017

[page 84]

Auyang page 131: It is one thing to set up a formal mathematical correspondence like fibre bundles, but how are these correspondences realized physically? There must be some physical bonding or messaging to implement it.

The force of words is illustrated by an accusation of crime (or a good deed) which has the effect of changing an individual's perception by a community which is reflected in the individual;s perception of self. This holds for people, nations and fundamental particles.

Copyright:

You may copy this material freely provided only that you quote fairly and provide a link (or reference) to your source.

Further reading

Books

Click on the "Amazon" link below each book entry to see details of a book (and possibly buy it!)

Auyang, Sunny Y., How is Quantum Field Theory Possible?, Oxford University Press 1995 Jacket: 'Quantum field theory (QFT) combines quantum mechanics with Einstein's special theory of relativity and underlies elementary particle physics. This book presents a philosophical analysis of QFT. It is the first treatise in which the philosophies of space-time, quantum phenomena and particle interactions are encompassed in a unified framework.'  Amazon   back

Cohen, Paul J, Set Theory and the Continuum Hypothesis, Benjamin/Cummings 1966-1980 Preface: 'The notes that follow are based on a course given at Harvard University, Spring 1965. The main objective was to give the proof of the independence of the continuum hypothesis [from the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms for set theory with the axiom of choice included]. To keep the course as self contained as possible we included background materials in logic and axiomatic set theory as well as an account of Gödel's proof of the consistency of the continuum hypothesis. . . .'   Amazon   back

Feynman, Richard P, and Robert B Leighton, Matthew Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics (volume 3) : Quantum Mechanics, Addison Wesley 1970 Foreword: 'This set of lectures tries to elucidate from the beginning those features of quantum mechanics which are the most basic and the most general. . . . In each instance the ideas are introduced together with a detailed discussion of some specific examples - to try to make the physical ideas as real as possible.' Matthew Sands  Amazon   back

Frye, Northrop, Fearful Symetry: A Study of William Blake, Princeton University Press Jacket: To say it is a magnificent, extraordinary book is to praise it as it should be praised, but in doing so one gives little idea of the huge scope of the book, and of its fiery understanding. Several great poets have written of Blake, but this book, I believe, is the first to show the full magnitude of Blake's mind, its vast creative thought. Edith Sitwell, The Spectator  Amazon   back

Huang, Kerson, Statistical Mechanics, John Wiley 1987 'Preface: ... The purpose of this book is to teach statistical mechanics as an integral part of theoretical phyiscs, a discipline that aims to describe all natural phenomena on the basis of a single unifying theory. This theory, at present, is quantum mechanics. ... Before the subject of statistical mechanics proper is presented, a brief but self contained discussion of thermodynamics and the classical kinetic theory of gases is given. The order of this devlopment is imperative, from a pedagogical point of view, for two reasons. First, thermodynamics has successfully described a large part of macroscopic experience, which is the concern of statistical mechanics. It has done so not on the basis of molecular dynamics but on the basis of a few simple and intuitive postulates stated in everyday terms. If we first falimiarize ourselves with thermodynamics, the task of statistical mechanics reduces to the explanation of thermodynamics. Second, the classical kinetic theory of gases is the only known special case in which thermodynics can be derived nearly from first principles, ie, molecular dynamics. A study of this special case will help us to understand why statstical mecahnics sorks.'  Amazon   back

Matthews, Paul Taunton, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, McGraw-Hill 1968-1974 Jacket: 'Quantum mechanics has now assumed such importance in a wide range of undergraduate courses that an elementary but comprehensive explanation of the subject is much needed. This edition meets that need; it is lucid, concise and self-sufficient. It emphasizes concepts and is uncluttered with mathematical machinery.'  Amazon   back

Zee, Anthony, Fearful Symmetry: The Search for Beauty in Modern Physics, Macmillan Publishing Company 1986 Jacket: 'Fearful Symmetry invites us to view physics not merely as a body of theories and facts, but as a spirited quest to to fathom the workings of the universe It is the first book to offer an accessible explanation of how symmetry forms the intellectual and aesthetic foundation of modern physics. We go from the left-right symmetry of living forms to the deep, abstract symmetries of the fundamental laws of Nature. Zee shows how symmetry guides Nature's grand design in such diverse phenomena as the longevity of stars, the magic of light, the expansion of the cosmos, and the life and death of particles.'  Amazon   back

Papers

Bracewell, Ronald N, "The Fourier Transform", Scientific American, 260, 6, June 1989, page 62-69. 'The Fourier transform has become a powerful tool in diverse fields of science. In some cases, the Fourier transform can provide a means of solving unwieldy equations that describe dynamic responses to electricity, heat or light. In other cases it can identify the regular contributions in an oscillating signal, helping thereby to make sense of observations in astronomy, medicine and chemistry.' p 62.. back

Links

Claude Shannon, Communication in the Presence of Noise, 'A method is developed for representing any communication system geometrically. Messages and the corresponding signals are points in two “function spaces,” and the modulation process is a mapping of one space into the other. Using this representation, a number of results in communication theory are deduced concerning expansion and compression of bandwidth and the threshold effect. Formulas are found for the maximum rate of transmission of binary digits over a system when the signal is perturbed by various types of noise. Some of the properties of “ideal” systems which transmit at this maximum rate are discussed. The equivalent number of binary digits per second for certain information sources is calculated.' back

George Orwell, In Front of Your Nose, There is no use in multiplying examples. The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield.' back

Michael Goldfarb, Is the American republic built to withstand a malevolent president?, 'However, what the madness, abnormality or whatever you want to call it emanating from the White House does draw attention to is the real problem in American politics – the Republicans are no longer a political party but a political faction, a much more dangerous thing. The danger of factions was recognised at the foundation of the United States. In The Federalist Number 10, a highly influential essay on political theory published in 1787, James Madison defined faction as “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community”.' back