BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Amos
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 10:42 AM

Well, any folkie knows that the heart of the song is what's behind the words, not the words -- the "data" obsession we have inherited from our scientific friends doesn't travel well intot he realms of such arcane things as understanding and communicating. That's why psychiatry is such a flop, IMHO -- trying to proclaim itself a medical specialization and harrumphing around with data without due regard to the subject proper of the psyche and its doings. Don't get me started.

Ok, so breaking it down a bit for the sake of curiosity, what could this sentence mean:

...the equality between the negative expected log probability measure of information and the product of the translational eigenstates of time and energy, is derived,.

To start with I must confess I do not understand "eigenstates" and would appreciate it if someone would explain the use oif the term to me.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 01:48 PM

Amos Said:
To start with I must confess I do not understand "eigenstates" and would appreciate it if someone would explain the use oif the term to me.

Rob says:
I can't explain it, but oddly enough, I think this does. http://www.math.latech.edu/iqsa/mixup.html

Good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 01:44 PM

Here's some eigenstates. In this case they appear to be doggies...

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 01:56 PM

I think it refers to discrete states - such as Schrodinger's cat being either alive or dead. it is one or the other. Versus something such as height - which is relative.

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 03:10 PM

Huh? I'm just passin' through. Just passin' through. Anything beyond three chords, and I'm lost.
Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Amos
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 05:06 PM

In the thought experiment called Schrodinger's Cat, the cat "is" in one of two conditions -- alive and dead -- and theoretically is in both of them in alternate universes of branching unfolding lines of event. So my guess is that an "eigenstate" from the German word for "special" is a special way of looking at quantum phenomena. I'm building this a bit at a time though... so lemme go chew some more....

....OK, I'm believed to be back. So... if you look at one of this "possible states" in a particular way you get a specific perception of an "outcome" reality, one of the many probability states it could have been in. I THINK the eigenstate is the bundle of all possible probability states that a quantum "thing" could be in. OR an eigenstate is the combination of all possible states PLUS a particular perspective that "projects" the quantum event ONTO its eigenstate so that one outcome is now determined. They talk, for example, about whether a particular measurement is a momentum eigenstate or a location eigenstate, meaning that looking at the quantum event that way projects it into an outcome of one or the other, but not both pieces of information being revealed (this is associated with the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which I know enough to name but not enough to truly explain, dumb me....).

I guess each of the possible state-values of a system before it is measured is also called an Eigenstate. So the cat has two -- the alive eigenstate and the dead eigenstate. But only one of them shows up as actual, and only when the measurement is taken (opening the box). The set of all the states of a quantum system can be represented by a finite-dimensional complex vector space with an inner product. This is the superposition of all the individual eigenstates of a system -- if I understand this tricky concept right. Opening the box "pins" or "projects" the quantum system "cat" onto its eigenstate "dead" or "alive" depending on the instant or other characteristic of the measurement.

Anyone want to reassure me out there?

Regards,

Amos

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Amos
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 12:13 PM

Wow...I am overwhelmed at the flood of responses. Obviously the method of measuring (posing a relatively obscure question from a scientific theory) does not actually produce an eigenvalue, or at least a set which is nul. Very intersting... ve vill haff to exshplore more about der eigenstates of dis community Mudcatten!! De eigenstates are very anomolous!

Regards,A

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: GUEST,Professor Von Civet
Date: 30 Jun 01 - 06:26 PM

As I drink from my glass I complate its eigenstate
Fully full, less full, half full almost empty
That was a worthwhile thought experiment
Please pay strict attention while I perform it again!

Subject: RE: BS: Songwriter's Theory 4002: Mandatory
From: Amos
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 10:57 AM

That's what I like to see, Professor -- down to earth practical applications!! Thanks.

A