What are infinite possible worlds?
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The concept of infinite possible worlds is often discussed in the context of quantum mechanics and multiverse theories. Experts in theoretical physics, like Sean Carroll and Brian Greene, provide insights into this fascinating topic.
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Sean Carroll explains that in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, whenever a quantum event occurs, the universe splits into multiple branches, each representing a different outcome of that event. This can lead to an exceptionally large number of possible worlds, though not necessarily infinite. Carroll suggests that the total number of possible branches is related to the dimensionality of Hilbert space, the mathematical space in which quantum states are described. If Hilbert space is finite, then the number of branches would also be finite, albeit extraordinarily large. Carroll notes that our current understanding of cosmology and quantum gravity does not yet definitively tell us whether there are a finite or infinite number of branches or universes 1 2.
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Brian Greene elaborates on how the idea of infinite possible worlds intersects with the concept of infinite space. In an infinitely large universe, every possible configuration of particles that does not violate physical laws could occur somewhere. This implies an infinite number of realities, each differing slightly or substantially from our own. Furthermore, Greene highlights how the Many-Worlds Interpretation and the infinite nature of space might be interconnected, suggesting that the infinite universes described by infinite space and the branches from quantum events might represent the same phenomenon viewed from different perspectives 3 4.
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Neil deGrasse Tyson and Greene discuss whether an infinite multiverse could accommodate all possible variations of life and events. Tyson points out that different infinities can be of different sizes, but under most interpretations, an infinite number of universes implies that all possible configurations of particles can and will occur somewhere across the multiverse 5.
In essence, the concept of infinite possible worlds spans both the theoretical possibilities of quantum mechanics and the vast, potentially infinite expanse of the cosmos, leading to a staggering variety of realities and outcomes that challenge our conventional understanding of existence.
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