The EPR Experiment
Einstein did not accept the maybe in the logic of the Quantum theory. He believed there was a reason why things occur that was just complex. He discredited Bohr’s opinions claiming his theory was ‘too ugly to be true’ (The Search for Reality 2000). Einstein refutes the aspect of chance and using the example of two boxes containing a glove one with a left hand and the other a right, he would argue that nature must know which is which and hence has some unknown way of causing it. From his observations he developed the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) experiment which aimed to prove that you could measure both the momentum and position of a particle. The experiment refers to two quantum particles that were originally together and then separated in opposite directions and then measured at distant locations. This was a thought experiment as Einstein did not have sufficient equipment to test his challenge. As nothing can travel faster than the speed of light according to Einstein’s special relativity it suggests that there is a flaw in the quantum theory, however Einstein was eventually proved wrong.
The first trial of the EPR experiment was in 1960 in Ireland, then in 1981 where Aspect and Philippe tested the particles over short distance then finally in the 1980’s with the aid of the development of the laser it was tested over long distances (The Search for Reality 2000). The experiment followed these basic steps;
This EPR experiment was successful, proving that, “there is a connection between the particles that does not diminish with distance, cannot be shielded, and travels faster than the speed of light” (Sewell 2003, p. 1). This proved Einstein wrong and Bohr right however many still argue whether the theory is flawed as it contradicts the fundamental law of special relativity.
The first trial of the EPR experiment was in 1960 in Ireland, then in 1981 where Aspect and Philippe tested the particles over short distance then finally in the 1980’s with the aid of the development of the laser it was tested over long distances (The Search for Reality 2000). The experiment followed these basic steps;
- A pair of Quantum particles (2 photons) were created from a single photon using a single crystal holding the photon and a laser beam
- The 2 photons are sent down fibre networks in each direction, minimal if any loss of light occurs in optic fibres, light only appears at the end
- Aim was to separate them by 10km and measure them at the exact same moment, meaning there is no time for a message to pass between the two photons
This EPR experiment was successful, proving that, “there is a connection between the particles that does not diminish with distance, cannot be shielded, and travels faster than the speed of light” (Sewell 2003, p. 1). This proved Einstein wrong and Bohr right however many still argue whether the theory is flawed as it contradicts the fundamental law of special relativity.
references
The Search for Reality 2000, DVD, Video Education Australia
Sewell 2003, “The EPR experiment”, viewed 6th October 2012, <www.halexandria.org/dward148.htm>
Sewell 2003, “The EPR experiment”, viewed 6th October 2012, <www.halexandria.org/dward148.htm>