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Related: About this forumIs it real? Physicists propose method to determine if the universe is a simulation
Is it real? Physicists propose method to determine if the universe is a simulation
October 12, 2012 by Bob Yirka report
(Phys.org)A common theme of science fiction movies and books is the idea that we're all living in a simulated universethat nothing is actually real. This is no trivial pursuit: some of the greatest minds in history, from Plato, to Descartes, have pondered the possibility. Though, none were able to offer proof that such an idea is even possible. Now, a team of physicists working at the University of Bonn have come up with a possible means for providing us with the evidence we are looking for; namely, a measurable way to show that our universe is indeed simulated. They have written a paper describing their idea and have uploaded it to the preprint server arXiv.
The team's idea is based on work being done by other scientists who are actively engaged in trying to create simulations of our universe, at least as we understand it. Thus far, such work has shown that to create a simulation of reality, there has to be a three dimensional framework to represent real world objects and processes. With computerized simulations, it's necessary to create a lattice to account for the distances between virtual objects and to simulate the progression of time. The German team suggests such a lattice could be created based on quantum chromodynamicstheories that describe the nuclear forces that bind subatomic particles.
To find evidence that we exist in a simulated world would mean discovering the existence of an underlying lattice construct by finding its end points or edges. In a simulated universe a lattice would, by its nature, impose a limit on the amount of energy that could be represented by energy particles. This means that if our universe is indeed simulated, there ought to be a means of finding that limit. In the observable universe there is a way to measure the energy of quantum particles and to calculate their cutoff point as energy is dispersed due to interactions with microwaves and it could be calculated using current technology. Calculating the cutoff, the researchers suggest, could give credence to the idea that the universe is actually a simulation. Of course, any conclusions resulting from such work would be limited by the possibility that everything we think we understand about quantum chromodynamics, or simulations for that matter, could be flawed.
More information: Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation, arXiv:1210.1847 (hep-ph) http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.1847
Abstract
Observable consequences of the hypothesis that the observed universe is a numerical simulation performed on a cubic space-time lattice or grid are explored. The simulation scenario is first motivated by extrapolating current trends in computational resource requirements for lattice QCD into the future. Using the historical development of lattice gauge theory technology as a guide, we assume that our universe is an early numerical simulation with unimproved Wilson fermion discretization and investigate potentially-observable consequences. Among the observables that are considered are the muon g-2 and the current differences between determinations of alpha, but the most stringent bound on the inverse lattice spacing of the universe, b^(-1) >~ 10^(11) GeV, is derived from the high-energy cut off of the cosmic ray spectrum. The numerical simulation scenario could reveal itself in the distributions of the highest energy cosmic rays exhibiting a degree of rotational symmetry breaking that reflects the structure of the underlying lattice.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)Only that the real universe has properties consistent with a simulated universe.
My brain hurts...
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)It's a simulation of pain.
the simulation...
FirstLight
(13,360 posts)but how much can we *really* measure and observe...even if we have the instrumentation. After all., it would be a pretty sure thing to think there are frequencies and vibrations and layers of reality we haven;t even CONSIDERED, much less thought of a way to read.
...and considering Heisenberg's Principle, I venture to guess we may find exactly what we seek...
But it still begs the question... what happens IF we find we are IN the Matrix? the ramifications are infinite and cover ground from the spiritual to the arcane...beyond science, and into alchemy and dreams...
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)I would rather never find out
ashling
(25,771 posts)It's not a lie ...if you believe it.
1620rock
(2,218 posts)Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)I won't have to worry about turning 50 on the 22nd...
FirstLight
(13,360 posts)...that would explain "the Shift" ...
and happy Bday fellow Cappy! :hiya:
aletier_v
(1,773 posts)It's the only explanation that makes sense, if you believe in a higher power.
if God really knew the future, why would he bother executing it?
What makes sense is that God *suspects* he knows the answer, and the universe is a test bed to prove/disprove the answer.
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)There's an episode where the kids find out, that the life-forms on earth are really participants in a reality-show for aliens.
And the show's about to be scrapped, because the ratings are down...
DhhD
(4,695 posts)DhhD
(4,695 posts)Javaman
(62,530 posts)or the I don't care, just give me "The-Walking-Dead-to-watch-and-shut-up" pill. LOL
hunter
(38,316 posts)... they'll just tweak the data so it's inconclusive.
Very similar to how I might pause an atari 800 emulation on my desktop, change a few virtual memory or register values, and continue.
Silent3
(15,217 posts)Of course, that doesn't prove anything, since there's plenty of evidence that the safety protocols in our universe have been disabled.
NoOneMan
(4,795 posts)I takes technology to simulate reality. It takes exploitation of resources to develop technology. An advanced civilization/race would probably over-exploit their resources and fall before they could reach the singular point needed to simulate this reality. I mean, isn't that what is happening here?
I think if there was some equation for singularity bound to available resources & the mindless drive to 'innovate', no matter where you move the sliders, any species making it out of the stone age will be hard press to reach that magic point before killing themselves off.
caraher
(6,278 posts)Sure, you can use the mathematics and concepts of physics to explore all kinds of things, but that doesn't make said speculations serious science. These kinds of studies are done by very smart people but they're exercises no deeper than xkcd's weekly "What If?" series.
The first paper published along these lines that I read was Seth Lloyd's Physical Review Letters paper on the universe as a quantum computer. The most memorable line for me was where he asks, if the universe is a quantum computer, what is it computing? His proposed answer was its time evolution.
This is Douglas Adams territory here, folks, and Adams did it better.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)The possibility of alternate universes is infinitely more likely.....Harry Turtledove, anyone?
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)skiptaylor
(22 posts)Is it me or this article just a little bit cuckoo ?