The Many Worlds of Quantum Reality

April 27, 2019Den Grå Hal Copenhagen
Many Worlds
Doors open: 18:30
Start programme: 20:00
Den Grå Hal
Refshalevej 2
Copenhagen

Science & Cocktails, in an event integrated in Forskningens Døgn, presents the strangeness of quantum reality with world expert theoretical physicist, cosmologist and internationally acclaimed science communicator Sean Carroll.

Programme for the evening:

18:30 Doors open for cocktails

19:10 Tromleorkestret

20:00 The Many Worlds of Quantum Reality with Sean Carroll

21:20 M. Rexen

Entrance is free after 21:00.

What is quantum mechanics, and why is it so mysterious? What is the Many-Worlds version of quantum mechanics, and why would anyone find it compelling? How do we explain that Schrödinger's cat is both dead and alive? Isn't it unscientific to postulate an infinite number of unobservable worlds? How can space and time emerge from quantum mechanics?

One of the great intellectual achievements of the twentieth century was the theory of quantum mechanics, according to which observational results can only be predicted probabilistically rather than with certainty. Yet, after decades in which the theory has been successfully used on an everyday basis, most physicists would agree that we still don't truly understand what it means. Sean Carroll will talk about the source of this puzzlement, and explain why an increasing number of physicists are led to an apparently astonishing conclusion: that the world we experience is constantly branching into different versions, representing the different possible outcome of quantum measurements. What does this have anything do to with space and time?

Sean Carroll: The evening’s guide to many existent realities.

Smooth chilled cocktails served during the event together with performances by Tromleorkestret and their robotic, fire spitting barrel organ and afterwards, M. Rexen who composes without conventional limitation, with indeterminate gender, meeting between the experimental, trial and commercial expressions.

This event has the kind support of the Danish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (UFM).

Photo: Society of Modern Astronomy

Many Worlds

Sean Carroll

The Many Worlds of Quantum Reality

What is quantum mechanics, and why is it so mysterious? What is the Many-Worlds version of quantum mechanics, and why would anyone find it compelling? How do we explain that Schrödinger's cat is both dead and alive? Isn't it unscientific to postulate an infinite number of unobservable worlds? How can space and time emerge from quantum mechanics?

Talk by

Sean Carroll

Theoretical physicist specializing in quantum mechanics, gravity and cosmology. He is a research professor in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology. He has been a contributor to the physics blog Cosmic Variance, and has published in scientific journals such as Nature as well as other publications, including New York Times, Sky & Telescope and New Scientist.

Sean Carroll

Music by

Tromleorkestret

Tromleorkestret plays psychedelic barrel-organ music on a self-constructed mechanical, fire-spitting, high tech barrel-organ. The sound from the machine is manipulated wirelessly by a pair of sound-magic-trick-gloves. The machine is controlled by Hjalte Bested Møller and Sofie Hjorth.

Tromleorkestret

Music by

M. Rexen

"Over​ ​the​ ​last​ ​few​ ​years​ ​I​ ​have​ ​dedicated​ ​my​ ​time​ ​to​ ​visiting​ ​neolithic​ ​sites​ ​around the​ ​world.​ ​Through​ ​these​ ​adventures​ ​I​ ​have​ ​begun​ ​to​ ​regard​ ​these​ ​sites​ ​as​ ​healing centers​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​tombs​ ​or​ ​religious​ ​sites;​ ​places​ ​where​ ​the​ ​lethargy​ ​imbedded​ ​in our​ ​modern​ ​bodies​ ​evaporates​ ​effortlessly.​ ​Pyramids​ ​especially​ ​rock​ ​my​ ​world.​ ​Our world,​ ​I​ ​should​ ​say." - M.Rexen

M Rexen