Felix

I would like to discuss the FELIX experiment that was proposed by Roger Penrose. For those of you that are not already familiar with it, FELIX stands for "Free Orbit Experiment with Laser-Interferometry X-rays". Very roughly said, its about the (predicted) influence of gravity on quantum mechanics. For those of you that have access to Mr. Penrose book "The Road to Reality" I would suggest that they consult chapter 30.13 to read about it, otherwise google for "Penrose" and "FELIX". I am to lazy at the moment to explain it further but I will certainly elaborate on it if enough of you peasants show genuine interest !

Two topics I would like to discuss:

1) Do you think that the prediction of Mr. Penrose will become true ?

2) What do you see as the major technological obstacles for this experiment, and when do you think will it be feasible (years, decades, centuries) ?

 

I think you're an odd person... or act like one. It's interesting...

 

Let me derail this thread before anyone bothers to reply to such an idiotic question. Its so stacked with assumptions about physics and makes reference to a text no one here has to bring up debate nobody will have any relevant input on. SO what happens is, the topic itself isnt discussed but more criticism of the poster is brought to the front. This attention grabbing self pat on the back is all the poster's intentions must be and I for one will respond to it with spite.

 

*applause*

 

That was the agreement with the Ganja King or however hes called ! He himself suggested a preference for quantum mechanics and this experiment would be at the very front of quantum mechanics !!!

 

Its not me thats odd but the OTHER PEOPLE ! I have not even registered here for one month, and I have been insulted here without end !

It has been suggested to me that I have sex with hookers, my mom and an inflatable sheep. In a thread were I wrote about beeing in bed with a black (!) girl, I was called a faggot and a Nazi and pictures of Adolf Hitler were posted in the thread. In another thread I was threatenend with beeing bonddaged and my ass beeing spanked and floggelled (dont remember the exact word). I have been called a virgin and it has been suggested that I have elephantitis of the testicles ! And some feminist chick threatened to ban me from the forums if I ever again publicly declare that breasts are designed for another purpose than feeding babies !

And you call ME odd, lady ?

 

That was pretty funny. thank you i almost spit out my water from laughing

 

I would much prefer it if you answered my question ! You have called me a "little boy" last night, well you say your 27, Im 22, so how comes you dont even grasp the BASICS of what Ive postet her and just bitch around like "Oh shit, its about physics, that makes my brain hurt, thats unfair" !

 

Considering again that your question is based on reading a book, if you were to quote a few lines to give us some context, I might have something to add.

 

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-101883.html

But the discussion in the book is much clearer.

 

1. I can't make a guess on that since most of physics is nothing but theories to begin with. Its all just best guess on our part. Could it become true? sure, but likely not within any of our lifetimes

2. The biggest technological obstacle for this is that we know shit about any of it. Again, this is nothing but speculation and guesses. Even Penrose himself said that as the objects get bigger, the amount of time in which they can stay in a superposition gets smaller. He believes that an item slightly smaller than a micrometre would decohere in less than a tenth of a second, and that as the object gets bigger that amount of time is cut even smaller and smaller. Penrose suggests an experiment in space using X-ray mirrors and a crystal on a carbon filament. With the stage of technology we are at right now, it is seriously doubtful we see this experiment happening any sooner than a century perhaps. We just don't have the means to carry out such a test, since our space program as meek as it is now is suffering. Undertaking such a task would certainly drain the entire nations space budget for the next 50 years.

 

He mentions an earth-based alternative, where they would use less energetic photons (in the visible range), and obviously much smaller distances, where the same photon would bounce say 1 million times on the mirror (kind of as they do in the gravitational waves detectors).

 

Why didn't you post this in the science forum?

 

That same post you quoted made me laugh my ass off... and sealed the deal in my mind, not only that this person is an alias, but who's alias it is.

 

I don't think we would get quite as accurate results with an earth based experiment. IMO, the only true way to prove this is to test it in outerspace when the technology is available. We have done tons of earth based alternative experiments with other theories, and yet, they are still shrouded in mystery and are still nothing but theories.

 

Hey GermaneLustContraption... are you as dizzyingly brilliant as you want us to think you are?

 

we want to see a pic of you.

 

What alternative experiments do you refer to ? No experiment of this kind has ever been performed. I dont know that much about quantum mechanics, but as far as Im aware the current research mostly concentrates on stuff like quantum encryption and quantum computation and other stuff which I would call APPLIED QUANTUM MECHANICS, but the experiment proposed by Penrose would tell us something about the FOUNDATIONS of quantum mechanics !

 

I have never claimed to be "dizzyingly brillian" whatever that means. This whole thing started when someone claimed that Id be studying physics in the KINDERGARTEN, just to make a joke of me to impress some girl that was posting in my thread ! Its all about reconstitutoning my honour !

 

Is English your first language? I'm guessing that it isn't. While your grasp of the language is without question topnotch I'm thinking that some of the some of the things you may be unintentionally communicating may be escaping you... things that are putting people off.

I'll try to explain... perhaps someone can improve on my attempt.

I'm thinking that there are no frequenters here that know about or even care about said "FELIX" experiment. Proposing to discuss it in a group such as this comes across as being needlessly pompous and condescending- it makes you look like you're only trying to show how much more intelligent you are than us- or conversely how much less educated we are than you. There is very little honor in doing this- it makes people uncomfortable around you and reflects very little class. Perhaps you are unaware that you are coming across this way.

Someone with true class moves easily in any social group- and most people, regardless of their background and education, are comfortable around that individual. Anyone who would require you to wield an MIT education in order to impress does not deserve to be impressed.