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The Uncertainty Principle itself is used in quantum mechanics. It's any of a variety of mathematical inequalities asserting a fundamental limit to the precision with which certain pairs of physical properties of a particle can be known simultaneously. This is why the direct measurement of the wavefunction has long seemed impossible--certain properties of a system could only be known poorly if other related properties were known with precision. The newest findings from researchers challenge this long-held belief, though. Previously, researchers only were able to use a technique called quantum tomography to measure the information in these states indirectly. Yet the new technique that this experiment employed allowed them to measure information directly.
What Einstein's E=mc2 is to relativity theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is to quantum mechanics—not just a profound insight, but also an iconic formula that even non-physicists recognize. The principle holds that we cannot know the present state of the world in full detail, let alone predict the future with absolute precision. It marks a clear break from the classical deterministic view of the universe.
Yet the uncertainty principle comes in two superficially similar formulations that even many practicing physicists tend to confuse. Werner Heisenberg's own version is that in observing the world, we inevitably disturb it. And that is wrong, as a research team at the Vienna University of Technology has now vividly demonstrated.
The uncertainty principle generally prohibits simultaneous measurements of certain pairs of observables and forms the basis of indeterminacy in quantum mechanics1. Heisenberg’s original formulation, illustrated by the famous γ-ray microscope, sets a lower bound for the product of the measurement error and the disturbance2. Later, the uncertainty relation was reformulated in terms of standard deviations3, 4, 5, where the focus was exclusively on the indeterminacy of predictions, whereas the unavoidable recoil in measuring devices has been ignored6. A correct formulation of the error–disturbance uncertainty relation, taking recoil into account, is essential for a deeper understanding of the uncertainty principle, as Heisenberg’s original relation is valid only under specific circumstances7, 8, 9, 10. A new error–disturbance relation, derived using the theory of general quantum measurements, has been claimed to be universally valid11, 12, 13, 14. Here, we report a neutron-optical experiment that records the error of a spin-component measurement as well as the disturbance caused on another spin-component. The results confirm that both error and disturbance obey the new relation but violate the old one in a wide range of an experimental parameter.
Originally posted by yampa
Thanks, this shows the Uncertainty Principle is pretty much dead in the water. It's been disproved by physical experiment in at least two ways I know of.. Supposedly Kennard's version still remains, but the theory ends up as a pretty bland statement with that version.
This means all those silly quantum fairytales about human measurements magically changing reality just through observation alone are false and were never even true in theory.
direct measurement procedure is applicable to general (that is, potentially mixed) quantum states.
While trying to devise a way to transport holographic matter off the holodeck without it disintegrating instantly, the idea was put forth that decoupling the Heisenberg compensators might let the matter reform normally, although the suggestion was used as a stalling tactic against Professor James Moriarty, and the idea had never actually been tried before. (TNG: "Ship in a Bottle")
Originally posted by avocadoshag
I'm not so sure about the statement that the Uncertainty Principle is dead. Admittedly, I haven't read the journal article, only the news summary linked to by the OP, but it seems to me that the researchers cheated by splitting the light into two streams. They measured one aspect of one stream and another aspect of the other. While that does raise some interesting points it does nothing to disprove the Uncertainty Principle.
Originally posted by Angelic Resurrection
Uncertainity principle is still valid in this universe
Originally posted by Jukiodone
Human memory seems to maintain an almost ethereal quantum state so even if we can start measuring solids with solids, the person who's quantum state has been measured using this technique would just be facsimilie of the original...possibly a brain dead zombification of the orignal teleporter.
Originally posted by Jukiodone
This method uses solids (i.e Quartz/Other Crystsals) as part of the measurement process so unless humans suddenly can be made "massless," this is highly unlikely to provide popular as there would be a high likelyhood of quantum scattering or "smushing" of the object involved once it's mass/energy passed a certain threshold.