9 votes

Quantum droplets win the 2019 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

3 comments

  1. [2]
    gpl
    Link
    I guess that the quantum connection is that these droplets are so called "quantum analogs", which are classical systems that can be used to try and understand quantum phenomena through analogy....

    I guess that the quantum connection is that these droplets are so called "quantum analogs", which are classical systems that can be used to try and understand quantum phenomena through analogy. Here, we see droplets guided by a wave in the water, drawing an analogy with the pilot wave (also known as Bohmian mechanics) interpretation of quantum mechanics. This interpretation is non-standard but as far as I know it is a fully consistent interpretation of the non-relativistic underlying theory. It has difficulties incorporating relativity as far as I am aware, which causes many physicists to be skeptical of it and abandon it in favor of other interpretations such as Copenhagen or Many-Worlds. Nonetheless, it does occasionally find applications in research.

    2 votes
    1. patience_limited
      Link Parent
      Thank you for elaborating. You reminded me of this article, which talks about recent bouncing droplet experiments. My physics understanding is very rusty and ends after physical chemistry, so I...

      Thank you for elaborating. You reminded me of this article, which talks about recent bouncing droplet experiments. My physics understanding is very rusty and ends after physical chemistry, so I can't comment on the fluid mechanics and acoustics that underlay the photograph.

  2. patience_limited
    Link
    Aside from the artistically stunning photograph, the article provides brief background information on the physicist who captured the shot, and the underlying physics experiment.

    Aside from the artistically stunning photograph, the article provides brief background information on the physicist who captured the shot, and the underlying physics experiment.

    1 vote