Similarity Between Quantum Mechanics Astrology

7/28/2019 Similarity Between Quantum Mechanics Astrology

1/7

Tapan Das,Ph.D., P.Eng. has 35 years oftechnical management experience intelecommunication, wireless, IP, WiFi andASIC. He has worked as VP, Director and

Technical Manager in SGNT Technologies,Kinaare Networks, Lucent, Nortel, andPlessey. He holds an M.Sc. in Electronics fromthe University Of London, UK and a Ph.D. inMicrowave Electronics from the University ofBradford, UK. He holds seven patents andhas published number of technical papers inInternational journals. He had an activeinterest in astrology for a long time and has

been researching astrology and cosmologyfor the last five years. He has published sixpapers on this subject in Research inAstrology with Media in Science (RAMS),International Society of AstrologicalResearch (ISAR).and Journal ofthe MindshiftInstitute. Recently, he has published a bookWhy Astrology is Science: Five GoodReasons.

Similarity BetweenQuantum Mechanics

& AstrologyByTapan Das, Canada

Readership Level: Very Advanced

Abstractodern physics is dominated by theconcept of quantum mechanics. Theprinciples of quantum mechanics are

duality of wave and particle, probability,uncertainty, discreteness of energy, andcontextual behavior. In this article, the authorshows with examples how the principles ofastrology are similar to quantum mechanics. If

the research work on astrology is pursued onthese principles, astrology will be accepted as ascience by the scientific community.

Quantum MechanicsQuantum mechanics is the science of matterand radiation at an atomic level. Classical(Newtonian) physics failed to explain very

small particles (where quantum mechanicstook over) and very fast particles of nearlythe speed of light (where theory of relativitytook over). Quantum mechanics correctsclassical physics at the atomic andsubatomic levels. The term quantum (Latinfor quantity) refers to the discrete units thatthe theory assigns to physical quantitiessuch as the energy of light andelectromagnetic wave.

Classical physics explained all physicalphenomena in the world with two entities

M

920


2/7

matter and fields. Drop a stone from a bridge. The stone is made of matter. It dropsbecause the earths gravitational field pulls it. Earth as a matter produces gravitational fieldwhich pulls the other much smaller matter like stone following Newtons laws of motion.Scottish physicist James Clark proposed another field called electromagnetic field layingdown the laws of electric and magnetic fields. Electricity and magnetism are not twoseparate fields but different aspects of a single electromagnetic field. Maxwell figured outthat light is also an electro-magnetic field at certain frequencies.

However, problem came with the classical physics in explaining why iron glows red aroundthirteen hundred degrees. According to classical physics, black bodies should glow brightblue at all temperatures. German scientist Max Planck solved this problem by proposing thatmatter particles do not vibrate any way they please, but at frequencies that follow the simplerule:

E = nhfWhere E is the particles energy, n is any integer,f is the frequency of the particlesvibration, and h is the Plancks constant. This was the first foundation of the quantummechanics. Following this, the most celebrated scientist of the twentieth century AlbertEinstein explained the photoelectric effect lights ability to eject electrons out of metal using Max Plancks quantum action. Einstein also showed that light consists of shower ofparticles called photons.

While physicists were puzzling over the lights seemingly contradictory properties - wavesand particles, French physicist Louis de Broglie hypothesized that all entities have both waveand particle aspects. The wavelength of a photon can be obtained from its momentum by the

formula:

p = h/

Where, p is the momentum, is the wavelength, and h is the Plancks constant. But, thiswave function differs from ordinary waves in that it carries no energy. For an ordinarywave, the square of its amplitude measures its energy. For a quantum wave, the square of itsamplitude at a certain location represents not energy but probability, the probability that aparticle localized quantum of energy - will be observed by a detector placed at that

location.

probability = (amplitude of wave function)2

The fundamental principle of quantum mechanics is based on the laws of probability, notlaws of certainty. Probability is a measure of the relative number of ways an event canhappen. The probability that a coin, when tossed, will come up heads is exactly or 0.5. Butthe result of any toss is uncertain. But, if we flip the coin enough number of times, say amillion times, we will find that heads showed up very close to half a million times makingthe probability of heads almost or 0.5.

Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who is considered the founder of quantum mechanics,proposed that electrons can exist only at discrete energy levels around the nucleus of an

921


3/7

atom which prevents them from spiraling into the nucleus as classical physicspredicts. Let us look at the picture of a hydrogen atom in its ground state. If we think thatthe electron is looping around the nucleus as shown in Figure 1A, then we are 80 years out ofdate. According to quantum mechanics, the probability density plot of the electron inhydrogen atom is shown in Figure 1B. The density of the dots represents the probability offinding the electron in that region.

Figure 1A: Electron looping around the nucleus in hydrogen atom according to classicalphysics.

Figure 1B: Electron probability density cloud of hydrogen atom according to quantummechanics.

The size of an atom is ~1 x 10-10meter. The central nucleus where 99.9 percent of the atomsmass resides is ~1 x 10-15 to 1 x 10-14meter. The size of an electron is not exactly known, butthought to be of the order of1 x 10-14meter. If the nucleus were the size of our Sun, then thehydrogen ground state would be twenty times larger than the solar system. If the electronwere really a point particle moving around the atomic space, it would reside in a space so

vacant that it would make solar system seem crowded. Now, if we consider the wavefunction of the electron with its probability density, then the probability density will fill upthe whole atomic space. For instance, let us try to push our hand through a wall. Since atoms

922


4/7

are mostly empty space, their electrons are too small to stop us. But, the probabilitydensity clouds of the atoms push our hand back. Pretty effective, arent they?

German physicist Werner Heisenberg proposed uncertainty principle for the quantummechanics stating that position and momentum of a particle can not be accuratelydetermined simultaneously. If the position of the particle is accurately known, then thespeed and direction of the speed will have poor accuracy. This is because the measurement

itself changes the position or speed or direction of the particle. This is not obvious in themacroscopic world around us. If we want to measure the length of a table with a tape, themeasurement does not change the length or position of the table in our acceptable measuringcapacity. In the case of electron, measurement becomes different. The very act of looking atthe electron with a super high power magnifier uses light made of photons. These photonswould have enough momentum that they once hit the electron would change its course.Heisenberg wrote the uncertainty principle as:

h= xp . Equation 1

On the right side is the Plancks constant divided by2. Momentum is represented by p, andposition (distance) is represented byx. Thesymbols mean uncertainty of, not change of.Hence,xis the uncertainty of position, andpis the uncertainty of momentum. Since h onthe human scale is extremely small, x and p are, for all practical purposes, zero ineveryday world.

The attributes of an electron are contextual [1] depending on how they are measured. Anexample of a contextual attribute is the color of an object. If you go to a shop to buy a dress,the color of the dress you choose will depend on the light in the shop. If the dress you choose

is white, but the light in the shop is bluish, then the dress will have the bluish tinge.Moreover, if you are wearing tinted glasses, then the color of the dress will also depend onthe tint of your glasses. Hence, the contextual attributes of an object depends on theenvironment and the person observing or measuring it.

Astrologystrology is based on the idea that the cosmic events happening in the universe affectthe events happening in the Earth. The basic concept of astrology is that the planets

and zodiacs affect the health and energy of a person. By studying the patterns andcycles of the planets and zodiacs, astrologers have gathered data thousands of years ago howcosmic patterns and events affect human life. The planets and their relationship betweenthemselves and with zodiacs change constantly, but can be predicted accurately bymathematical calculations. Thus by comparing the position of the Earth to the planets andzodiacs, astrologers can explain the present event and predict the future.

The cosmic energies that we know so far are the protons of elements of the periodic table.The dominant elements are hydrogen and helium along with other elements (lithium,beryllium and boron) with a few like carbon and oxygen. These cosmic rays on their way to

the Earth are deflected by the electromagnetic field present throughout the galaxy. Whenthese cosmic rays reach the Earth, they collide with the atoms of the upper atmosphere of

A

923


5/7

the Earth releasing showers of gamma rays, X-rays and subatomic particles. There may beother forms of cosmic energies reaching the Earth that are still to be discovered.

Our Sun is producing energy bursts continuously not only in the form of heat and light, butas radio waves, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays. A solar flare is a sudden localexplosion in a particular region of the Suns atmosphere releasing intense bursts of X-rays,ultraviolet rays, radio waves and energy particles [2]. A constant stream of electrons from

the Sun is responsible for the Auroras on the Earth.

The space surrounding the Sun and its corona is plasma. Each planet has a plasma sheath,the size of which is determined by the difference between the electric potential of the planetand that of the nearby solar plasma. The shape of the plasma is like a tear drop with thepointed end facing away from the Sun. The Sun and all planets except Venus and Mars haveintrinsic magnetic field. There are strong Dust Devils in Mars which is a storm of highlycharged particles. The planets and their satellites very close to the Earth also act as shieldsfor the energy flow reaching the Earth. The effect of shielding of the Moon is particularly

strong for the Earth. Thus the cosmic energies reaching the Earth are also affected by thesolar system.

How these energies affect a person is still to be understood. One theory is that it affects thebiofield of a person. Modern science has confirmed that the human body is not just aphysical structure, but is also composed of energy field. This biofield or human energy field(HEF) is the frontier of modern science, and the development of diagnostic and treatmentsystems. Dr. Victor Inyushin [3] at Kazakh University in Russia has done extensiveresearch in the area of biofield and has suggested the existence of a bioplasmic energy fieldcomposed of ions, free protons, and free electrons. The bioplasmic particles are constantly

renewed by chemical processes in the cells and are in constant motion. There is a balance ofpositive and negative particles within the bioplasma that is relatively stable. A shift in thisbalance causes a change in the person or organism. At the same time, some of this energy isradiated into space. Dr. George De La Warr and Dr. Ruth Brown built instruments to detectradiation from living tissues, and developed Radionics, a system of detection, diagnosis andhealing from a distance, using the human energy field. They took photographs using thepatients hair as antenna. These photographs showed internal diseases, like tumors, cystsinside the liver, and cancers within the brain.

The biofield energy has been known in the past and has been called by different names indifferent cultures, such as qi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ki in Japanese Kamposystem, doshas in Ayurvedic medicine, prana in Hinduism. The imbalance in the biofieldenergy causes sickness and disease. This concept has been in the practice of many forms oftherapy, like acupuncture, qiqong, ayurvedic, homeopathy, and therapeutic touch.

Similarity between Quantum Mechanics and Astrologyike quantum mechanics, astrology is also based on probability. Astrologers have

collected data thousands of years ago how certain pattern of zodiacs and planetsprovide certain attributes. Sun sign represents the zodiac that the Sun is in at the time

of a persons birth. For example, the attributes of a person with Sun sign Aries is L924


6/7

leadership, energy, aggressiveness, courage, confidence, arrogance and belligerence. Itdoes not mean that every Aries person will have these attributes. It means that theprobability of an Aries person to have these attributes is higher than other Sun signs. Theactual figure of probability is not quoted so far, but only be calculated statistically from verylarge numbers of collected data.

The uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics applies to astrology as well. The Sun sign

of a person means that the zodiac of the Sun sign, the Sun and the Earth are in line. Theenergy particles from the Sun sign zodiac and the Sun reach the Earth, and affect the peopleborn at that time. But, the energy particles on their way to the Earth can be impacted by theelectromagnetic fields and gravitational fields in the path, and the solar system as describedearlier. Thus there is some uncertainty how much of these energy particles can reach theEarth. Similarly, there are some uncertainties on the attributes assigned to the Sun signs.These attributes have been based on the collected data so far. How extensive the datacollection has been is not known and the attributes may change as more data are collected. Ifthe uncertainty of the energy flow isE, and the uncertainty of the assigned attributes are

A, then

E A = astrology error

As we see from Equation 1, the multiplication of the uncertainties of position andmomentum in quantum mechanics equals Plancks constant divided by 2. In case ofastrology, the values of astrology error and its constancy are not known. But, what isaccepted so far is that there is a margin of error in astrology analysis and prediction.

The contextual attributes mentioned in quantum mechanics apply to astrology as well. If the

astrology prediction is that a person is going to win some money, then for a poor personliving in poor neighborhood, winning $100 may be substantial and the neighbors mightcongratulate him. But, for a rich person living in rich neighborhood, this amount may beinsignificant and will go unnoticed by the neighbors. Hence, the effectiveness of theprediction depends on the environment and the observers.

Conclusion"I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics." - Richard P. Feynman, US

physicist.

No one has yet claimed to understand quantum mechanics, but it has been successful so farin explaining the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. Einstein neveraccepted the probability theory of quantum mechanics. His famous saying God does notplay dice. He had constant debate with Niels Bohr about quantum mechanics, but theyagreed that somehow quantum mechanics explains the behavior of atomic and subatomicparticles.

Couldnt the same thing be said about astrology? First thing that should be realized that

astrology is not certainty but probability. Second thing is that the astrology is based on thedata collected over a certain periods few thousand years ago. That data collection has notcontinued; hence astrology attributes have not been updated. Astrology has not been

925


7/7

accepted as a science by the scientific community. In order to get astrology accepted asa science, its basis should be similar to quantum mechanics (1) duality of cosmic energiesas particles and waves, (2) probability, not certainty, (3) uncertainty principle of cosmicenergy flow and human attributes, and (4) contextual attributes.

The scientific basis of astrology should be how cosmic energies affect human biofield. Thereare two limitations here. First, scientists so far know very little about the cosmic energies.

Our universe is made up of 74% dark energy, 22% dark matter, and 4% ordinary matterconsisting of baryons [4]. So far nothing is known about the dark energy and dark matter.Second, very little is known about human biofield, although currently some research work isgoing on. Until the study of human biofield is taken into mainstream scientific research, thefull effect of cosmic energies on humans will not be understood.

References[1] Quantum Reality beyond the New Physics, by Nick Herbert.

[2] Cosmic Energy Controlled by Planets and Zodiacs Affecting Human Life,Tapan Das, ISAR, Vol XXXVI Number 3.

[3] The Human Energy Field, Gloria Alvino, http://twm.co.nz/enrg.htm

[4] Dark Energy and Primordial Energy, Tapan Das, The Journal of theMindshift Institute.

926

Similarity Between Quantum Mechanics Astrology

Documents

Transcript of Similarity Between Quantum Mechanics Astrology