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Quantum Test Found For Mathematical Undecidability

Posted by kdawson on from the not-to-decide-is-to-decide dept.

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 exploring 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 — which is what they found. 'This sheds new light on the (mathematical) origin of quantum randomness in these measurements,' say the researchers (abstract)."

6 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. QUNATUM FIRST POST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    this may or may not be first post, but one thing is for certain: you suck.

  2. Re:Huh, I wonder why no one thought of that before by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seems intuitively obvious to the casual observer

    Ah, but now you've changed it again. ;-)

    Cheers

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  3. Meh by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm not sure how I feel about this.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  4. Re:UNITS!!! by 2names · · Score: 2, Funny

    Excellent point.

    --
    "I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
  5. Re:Huh, I wonder why no one thought of that before by Hillgiant · · Score: 4, Funny

    That would be a causal observer.

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  6. Re:Umm by kurzweilfreak · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did many boffins die to bring us this information?

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    kurzweil_freak

    5th Kyu Genbukan Ninpo/KJJR student

    Be the darkness that allows the light to shine.