Recent Developments in Recent Developments in PhysicsPhysics

Some Implications for Some Implications for TheologyTheology

Robert C. NewmanRobert C. Newman

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IntroductionIntroduction

Want to look at several phenomena Want to look at several phenomena discovered in the 20discovered in the 20thth century: century:

The Quantum WorldThe Quantum World

Relativity TheoryRelativity Theory

Open vs Closed UniverseOpen vs Closed Universe

Chaos TheoryChaos Theory

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The Quantum WorldThe Quantum World

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The Quantum WorldThe Quantum World

A quick tour of quantum phenomena:A quick tour of quantum phenomena:

Photoelectric effectPhotoelectric effect

Discrete energy levels in atoms, nucleiDiscrete energy levels in atoms, nuclei

Wave-particle dualityWave-particle duality

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Photelectric EffectPhotelectric Effect

Photoelectric effect: shining light on surface of a Photoelectric effect: shining light on surface of a metal causes metal to give off electrons.metal causes metal to give off electrons.

For particular metal, electrons only given off if For particular metal, electrons only given off if frequency of light is above some minimum frequency of light is above some minimum threshhold.threshhold.

If above threshhold, electrons come off even If above threshhold, electrons come off even with very weak beam of light.with very weak beam of light.

Metals apparently absorb light in packets, or Metals apparently absorb light in packets, or quanta.quanta.

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Discrete Energy LevelsDiscrete Energy Levels

Atoms and nuclei do not absorb or emit Atoms and nuclei do not absorb or emit light in just any frequencies/wavelengths.light in just any frequencies/wavelengths.

Rather, a particular atom or nucleus Rather, a particular atom or nucleus absorbs or emits a discrete series of absorbs or emits a discrete series of frequencies.frequencies.

Apparently the atoms or nuclei exist in a Apparently the atoms or nuclei exist in a series of energy levels or steps.series of energy levels or steps.

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Wave-Particle DualityWave-Particle Duality

It now appears that light does not exist just It now appears that light does not exist just as waves, as was earlier thought. Rather as waves, as was earlier thought. Rather it behaves sometimes as a wave and it behaves sometimes as a wave and sometimes as a particle.sometimes as a particle.The same appears to be true for objects The same appears to be true for objects that were traditionally thought of as that were traditionally thought of as particles, e.g., electrons, protons, etc. particles, e.g., electrons, protons, etc. They sometimes seem to be waves, They sometimes seem to be waves, sometimes particles.sometimes particles.

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Quantum TheoryQuantum Theory

The theory that has been developed in the The theory that has been developed in the 2020thth century to explain these phenomena. century to explain these phenomena.

Quantum objects are described by means Quantum objects are described by means of a wave function (a wave of probability or of a wave function (a wave of probability or potentiality) which tells where the object is potentiality) which tells where the object is likely to be.likely to be.

When the object interacts with another When the object interacts with another object, the wave function collapses.object, the wave function collapses.

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How realistic is quantum theory?How realistic is quantum theory?

It is partly an epistemological effect:It is partly an epistemological effect:– We are investigating size-scales where We are investigating size-scales where

observational tools disrupt the structure we observational tools disrupt the structure we are looking at.are looking at.

It is more than an epistemological effect:It is more than an epistemological effect:– The light really is in quanta.The light really is in quanta.– The peculiar two-slit experimentThe peculiar two-slit experiment– The EPR paradoxThe EPR paradox

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The Two-Slit ExperimentThe Two-Slit Experiment

Shining light on a screen produces basically Shining light on a screen produces basically uniform illumination.uniform illumination.Shining light which has passed thru a pair of slits Shining light which has passed thru a pair of slits onto a screen produces an interference pattern.onto a screen produces an interference pattern.If we turn down the intensity of the light so that If we turn down the intensity of the light so that only one quantum is passing from source to only one quantum is passing from source to screen at a time, we still get the pattern!screen at a time, we still get the pattern!Which slit did the quantum go through?Which slit did the quantum go through?Closing either slit destroys the pattern!Closing either slit destroys the pattern!How does the quantum know about both slits?How does the quantum know about both slits?

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The EPR ParadoxThe EPR Paradox

If two particles have interacted, then their If two particles have interacted, then their quantum states are correlated to each other.quantum states are correlated to each other.

If an observer measures the state of one If an observer measures the state of one particle, somehow the other particle knows what particle, somehow the other particle knows what the measurement was, even if they are so far the measurement was, even if they are so far apart that a signal could not have gotten there apart that a signal could not have gotten there yet!yet!

Are these instantaneous effects at a distance? Are these instantaneous effects at a distance? Is there something non-local about nature?Is there something non-local about nature?

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Diverse Models to Explain Diverse Models to Explain Quantum PhenomenaQuantum Phenomena

Copenhagen InterpretationCopenhagen Interpretation

Mind Over Matter InterpretationMind Over Matter Interpretation

Many Worlds InterpretationMany Worlds Interpretation

Neorealist InterpretationNeorealist Interpretation

Undivided Wholeness InterpretationUndivided Wholeness Interpretation

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Copenhagen InterpretationCopenhagen Interpretation

View of Bohr and HeisenbergView of Bohr and Heisenberg

Prevailing view in physics todayPrevailing view in physics today

There is no deep reality in the absence of There is no deep reality in the absence of measurement, only potentialities.measurement, only potentialities.

Measurement collapses the wave function, Measurement collapses the wave function, so that potentialities become actual.so that potentialities become actual.

Huge problem of how micro-world Huge problem of how micro-world transitions to macro-world.transitions to macro-world.

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Mind Over Matter InterpretationMind Over Matter Interpretation

View of Wigner, von NeumannView of Wigner, von NeumannA conscious observer collapses the wave A conscious observer collapses the wave function.function.Consciousness is necessary for the Consciousness is necessary for the universe to exist.universe to exist.Problem of transition to consciousness: Problem of transition to consciousness: – Humans are conscious; are animals, bugs, Humans are conscious; are animals, bugs,

plants?plants?

SchrSchrödinger's Catödinger's Cat

Many Worlds InterpretationMany Worlds Interpretation

View of Everett, DaviesView of Everett, Davies

No collapse of wave function, instead a No collapse of wave function, instead a multiplication of universes!multiplication of universes!

Each alternative is manifested in some Each alternative is manifested in some universe.universe.

Problem of conservation laws:Problem of conservation laws:– If nothing is conserved between universes, If nothing is conserved between universes,

why anything conserved within them?why anything conserved within them?

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Neorealist InterpretationNeorealist Interpretation

View of Einstein, Planck, SchrView of Einstein, Planck, Schrödinger, ödinger, BohmBohm

The world is made of objects that actually The world is made of objects that actually possess attributes, whether we observe possess attributes, whether we observe them or not.them or not.

Problem: these attributes are going to Problem: these attributes are going to have to be rather strange ones!have to be rather strange ones!

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Undivided Wholeness InterpretationUndivided Wholeness Interpretation

View of Bohm, CapraView of Bohm, Capra

The world is a seamless whole.The world is a seamless whole.

The various variables have real values.The various variables have real values.

But But ""localitylocality"" is abandoned. is abandoned.

""TogethernessTogetherness"" is undiminished by is undiminished by distance.distance.

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Summary on Quantum WorldSummary on Quantum World

Strange!Strange!We now see that the old ideas of We now see that the old ideas of ""particle-particle-contactcontact"" and of and of ""fields and wavesfields and waves"" were were research programs rather than research programs rather than ""the way the way things are.things are.""They have now encountered contradictory They have now encountered contradictory evidence.evidence.But it is not at all obvious what the deep But it is not at all obvious what the deep reality is like.reality is like.

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RelativityRelativity

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RelativityRelativity

Like quantum phenomena, relativistic Like quantum phenomena, relativistic phenomena seem to mock at common phenomena seem to mock at common sense.sense.

Discussion of relativity is usually Discussion of relativity is usually subdivided into:subdivided into:– Special RelativitySpecial Relativity– General RelativityGeneral Relativity

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Special RelativitySpecial Relativity

The main phenomena:The main phenomena:– Absolute speed limit = that of lightAbsolute speed limit = that of light– Length contraction Length contraction zero length as velocity zero length as velocity that that

of light (c)of light (c)– Mass increase Mass increase infinity as velocity infinity as velocity c c– Time dilation Time dilation infinity as velocity infinity as velocity c c

i.e., time slows downi.e., time slows down

The results:The results:– Inability to specify absolute frame of referenceInability to specify absolute frame of reference– Relativity of space & time intervalsRelativity of space & time intervals

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Special RelativitySpecial Relativity

Relativity of space & time intervals follows Relativity of space & time intervals follows logically from absolute value of speed of logically from absolute value of speed of light (in vacuum) for all observers.light (in vacuum) for all observers.

Relativity actually unpacks a contradiction Relativity actually unpacks a contradiction between Newtonbetween Newton''s equations of motion s equations of motion and Maxwelland Maxwell''s equations for s equations for electromagnetism.electromagnetism.

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General RelativityGeneral Relativity

Attempt to generalize the results of special Attempt to generalize the results of special relativity by including acceleration.relativity by including acceleration.

Both special and general relativity theory Both special and general relativity theory were worked out by Albert Einstein.were worked out by Albert Einstein.

General relativity discovers a link between General relativity discovers a link between mass and space curvature.mass and space curvature.

It leads to the concepts of black holes and It leads to the concepts of black holes and the twin paradox.the twin paradox.

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Black HolesBlack Holes

The popular name for a peculiar phenomenon The popular name for a peculiar phenomenon that arises from general relativity.that arises from general relativity.

As the amount of mass in a given volume is As the amount of mass in a given volume is increased, light passing near the mass begins to increased, light passing near the mass begins to be more and more bent, and light coming out be more and more bent, and light coming out from the mass more reddened.from the mass more reddened.

At a certain crucial mass per volume, light At a certain crucial mass per volume, light cannot escape from the mass, which then cannot escape from the mass, which then becomes a black hole.becomes a black hole.

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Twin ParadoxTwin Paradox

Imagine two twins, one of whom stays at home, Imagine two twins, one of whom stays at home, and the other travels out into space and back, and the other travels out into space and back, reaching speeds close to the speed of light.reaching speeds close to the speed of light.Depending on how close to the speed of light Depending on how close to the speed of light the traveling twin comes, less time will have the traveling twin comes, less time will have passed for him on his trip than for the twin who passed for him on his trip than for the twin who stayed at home.stayed at home.The effect is not symmetrical, and all observers The effect is not symmetrical, and all observers can distinguish between the twin who traveled can distinguish between the twin who traveled and the one who didnand the one who didn''t.t.

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Summary on RelativitySummary on Relativity

Relativity theory has often been misused by Relativity theory has often been misused by unwarranted generalization.unwarranted generalization.

It does not teach that all ideas or worldviews are It does not teach that all ideas or worldviews are relative and of equal weight.relative and of equal weight.

It does teach that our ideas of simultaneity and It does teach that our ideas of simultaneity and passage of time are relative.passage of time are relative.

General relativity does reinstate a possible General relativity does reinstate a possible preferred observation frame, and both theories preferred observation frame, and both theories have an absolute speed of light.have an absolute speed of light.

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The Universe: The Universe: Open or Closed?Open or Closed?

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What does What does ""openopen"" mean? mean?

Two distinct uses of Two distinct uses of ""openopen"" and and ""closedclosed"" with reference to the nature of the with reference to the nature of the universe:universe:– Whether anything outside the universe can Whether anything outside the universe can

penetrate it (open) or not (closed)penetrate it (open) or not (closed)– Whether the universe will expand forever Whether the universe will expand forever

(open) or eventually collapse (closed)(open) or eventually collapse (closed)

The former is more common in theological The former is more common in theological discussions, the latter in scientific.discussions, the latter in scientific.

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What does What does ""openopen"" mean? mean?

We looked at the former in our PP talk We looked at the former in our PP talk “The Biblical View of Nature.“The Biblical View of Nature.""Here we look at the latter.Here we look at the latter.Some form of the Big Bang cosmology has Some form of the Big Bang cosmology has now driven out its competitors.now driven out its competitors.One way of classifying big bang models:One way of classifying big bang models:– Oscillating: closedOscillating: closed– One-bounce: closedOne-bounce: closed– No-bounce: openNo-bounce: open

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Universe open or closed?Universe open or closed?

The oscillating model was popular until the The oscillating model was popular until the early 1990s, but it now looks like the early 1990s, but it now looks like the universe is expanding at an ever-universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate.increasing rate.

Both the oscillating and one-bounce Both the oscillating and one-bounce models require a bounce at the big-bang, models require a bounce at the big-bang, but it looks like a collapsing universe but it looks like a collapsing universe would disappear into a black hole.would disappear into a black hole.

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Universe open or closed?Universe open or closed?

Stephen Hawking has pointed out that the Stephen Hawking has pointed out that the entropy of the universe appears too low for it to entropy of the universe appears too low for it to have been through a bounce.have been through a bounce.

Thus a no-bounce version of the big-bang Thus a no-bounce version of the big-bang currently fits the data best, an open universe.currently fits the data best, an open universe.

Current attempts to avoid a beginning seek to Current attempts to avoid a beginning seek to have our universe be one bubble in a whole sea have our universe be one bubble in a whole sea of bubbles, but our universe at least is still an of bubbles, but our universe at least is still an open universe.open universe.

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Summary on UniverseSummary on Universe

The universe appears to have begun at The universe appears to have begun at the big bang.the big bang.

Being finite and inside our universe, we Being finite and inside our universe, we cannot rule out multiple universes, but we cannot rule out multiple universes, but we have no evidence for this.have no evidence for this.

The evidence we do have points strongly The evidence we do have points strongly toward a creation event, a Creator and toward a creation event, a Creator and Designer.Designer.

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Chaos TheoryChaos Theory

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What is it?What is it?

Chaos has been observed in the flow of fluids Chaos has been observed in the flow of fluids (when they become turbulent) for many years. (when they become turbulent) for many years. The differential equations for fluid flow are a The differential equations for fluid flow are a mess to solve!mess to solve!The The ""butterfly effectbutterfly effect"": work with equations of : work with equations of meteorology (fluid flow) show that long-term meteorology (fluid flow) show that long-term prediction is impossible due to the non-linear prediction is impossible due to the non-linear nature of the equations.nature of the equations.Recent interest has been sparked by finding Recent interest has been sparked by finding chaotic phenomena in numerous simple chaotic phenomena in numerous simple systems, including planetary motion.systems, including planetary motion.

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Chaotic SystemsChaotic Systems

These are physical systems in which solutions These are physical systems in which solutions with arbitrarily close initial conditions eventually with arbitrarily close initial conditions eventually diverge drastically, so that no matter how diverge drastically, so that no matter how accurately one measures initial conditions, we accurately one measures initial conditions, we can know virtually nothing about the state of the can know virtually nothing about the state of the system once a significant period of time has system once a significant period of time has passed.passed.

For example, it looks like weather prediction may For example, it looks like weather prediction may be permanently limited to just a week or so.be permanently limited to just a week or so.

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Summary on Chaotic SystemsSummary on Chaotic Systems

The clearest message here is that humans The clearest message here is that humans are strongly limited in their ability to predict are strongly limited in their ability to predict the future.the future.This makes the evidence of fulfilled This makes the evidence of fulfilled prophecy in Scripture very powerful.prophecy in Scripture very powerful.Some are hoping that chaotic systems will Some are hoping that chaotic systems will produce arbitrarily large levels of order produce arbitrarily large levels of order without a designer. This appears to be without a designer. This appears to be whistling in the dark.whistling in the dark.

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Conclusions on Recent PhysicsConclusions on Recent Physics

The 20The 20thth century produced a number of century produced a number of real surprises. We may very well see real surprises. We may very well see more of these in the 21more of these in the 21stst century. century.Reality is nowhere near so simple as we Reality is nowhere near so simple as we once thought it was.once thought it was.If Christianity is true, we should not fear If Christianity is true, we should not fear that the Bible will somehow be outdated. that the Bible will somehow be outdated. We may still have to revise some of our We may still have to revise some of our interpretations, however.interpretations, however.

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The EndThe End

……of this talk. I doubt that we of this talk. I doubt that we are near the end of are near the end of

discoveries in physics.discoveries in physics.

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For Further ReadingFor Further Reading

Davies & Brown, Davies & Brown, Ghost in the AtomGhost in the Atom (1986). (1986).

Gamow, G., Gamow, G., Mr. TompkinsMr. Tompkins (1940). (1940).

Gleick, J., Gleick, J., Chaos: Making a New ScienceChaos: Making a New Science (1997).(1997).

Hawking, S., Hawking, S., Brief History of TimeBrief History of Time (1988). (1988).

Herbert, N., Herbert, N., Quantum RealityQuantum Reality (1985). (1985).

Polkinghorne, J.C., Polkinghorne, J.C., Quantum WorldQuantum World (1984). (1984).

Ross, H., Ross, H., Fingerprint of GodFingerprint of God (1991). (1991).

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