The principle of complementarity is one of the most important methodological and heuristic principles of science , as well as one of the most important principles of quantum mechanics , formulated in 1927 by Niels Bohr . According to this principle, for a complete description of quantum-mechanical phenomena, it is necessary to apply two mutually exclusive (“additional”) sets of classical concepts, the totality of which gives comprehensive information about these phenomena as integral. For example, spatio-temporal and energy-momentum patterns are additional in quantum mechanics. Descriptions of any physical object as particles and how waves complement each other, one without the other is meaningless, the corpuscular and wave aspects of the description must necessarily be included in the description of physical reality [1] . When receiving information about some physical quantities that describe a micro-object, information about other physical quantities that are additional to the first is inevitably lost. [2]
The principle of complementarity formed the basis of the so-called Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics [3] and the analysis of the measurement process [4] of the characteristics of micro-objects. According to this interpretation, the dynamic characteristics of a microparticle (its coordinate , momentum , energy, etc.), borrowed from classical physics , are not at all inherent in the particle itself. The meaning and specific value of one or another characteristic of an electron, for example, its momentum, are revealed in conjunction with classical objects for which these quantities have a certain meaning and all can have a certain value at the same time (such a classical object is conventionally called a measuring device ). The role of the principle of complementarity turned out to be so significant that Pauli even proposed to call quantum mechanics “the theory of complementarity”, by analogy with the theory of relativity [5] .
Such an interpretation of the principle of complementarity is in accordance with the description of a number of simple experiments, for example, determining the coordinate of a particle with a microscope. Nevertheless, there are objections to it from a more general philosophical point of view. The role of the device in measurements is to “prepare” some state of the system. It is fundamentally impossible for the state of a physical system in which mutually complementary quantities have simultaneously precisely defined values. According to this point of view, the principle of complementarity is not related to measurement processes and reflects the objective properties of physical systems [2] .
Generalization of the principle of complementarity
N. Bohr generalized the principle of complementarity and gave it a deep epistemological meaning. Any truly deep natural phenomenon, such as “life”, “atomic object”, “physical system”, cannot be unambiguously defined using the words of our language and requires at least two mutually exclusive additional concepts for its definition [6] .
For example, the physical picture of the phenomenon and its mathematical description are complementary to each other. The physical picture of the phenomenon neglects the details and is far from mathematical accuracy, while the exact mathematical description of the phenomenon, on the contrary, complicates its clear understanding [7] .
Art and science are two additional ways of exploring the world around us. Science is based on logic and experience, art is based on intuition and insight. They do not contradict, but complement each other [6] .
Application of the generalized principle of complementarity over time has led to the creation of the concept of complementarity, covering not only physics, but also biology, psychology, cultural studies, humanitarian knowledge in general [8] [9] . For the first time, the concept of “complementarity” was used by the American psychologist William James , who denoted by them the relationship of mutual exclusion. It was the psychological works of William James, along with the interpretation of Kierkegaard’s philosophy by the Danish philosopher H. Hoffding , that inspired Bohr to create the concept of complementarity [10] .
Criticism
At the same time, the absolutization of the principle of complementarity, with its incorrect extended application, is, according to Bohr, a metaphysical dogma against which he warned researchers [11] .
See also
- Afshar experiment
- Wheeler Experiment [12] [13]
Literature
- Hyutt V.P. The concept of complementarity and the problem of the objectivity of physical knowledge. Tallinn, 1977
- Alekseev I.S. The concept of complementarity. M., 1978
- Holton J. Thematic Analysis of Science. M., 1981
- Rozov M. A. The phenomenon of complementarity in the humanities // Theory of knowledge. T. 4.M., 1985.P. 208—227
- Pais A. Niels Bohr's Times, in Physics, Philosophy, and Polity. Oxford, 1991; Held C. The Meaning of Complementarity // Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 1994. Vol. 25. P. 871-893.
Links
- Alekseev I. S. The principle of complementarity
- Vershinin I.V. The principle of complementarity in the methodology of literary criticism
Notes
- ↑ Kuznetsov B.G. Relativity. - M., Knowledge, 1969. - Circulation of 50,000 copies. - from. 141
- ↑ 1 2 D. Galtsov. Additionality principle // Physical Encyclopedic Dictionary. - ed. A. M. Prokhorova - M., Big Russian Encyclopedia, 2003 .-- ISBN 5-85270-306-0 . - Circulation 10000 copies. - from. 184
- ↑ Evolution of the concepts of quantum mechanics / Max Jemmer; Per. from English V.N. Pokrovsky; Ed. [and foreword] by L. I. Ponomarev. M.: Science, 1985.S. 348.
- ↑ Evolution of the concepts of quantum mechanics / Max Jemmer; Per. from English V.N. Pokrovsky; Ed. [and foreword] by L. I. Ponomarev. M.: Science, 1985.S. 357.
- ↑ Evolution of the concepts of quantum mechanics / Max Jemmer; Per. from English V.N. Pokrovsky; Ed. [and foreword] by L. I. Ponomarev. M.: Science, 1985.S. 343.
- ↑ 1 2 Ponomarev L.I. On the other side of the quantum // M., Young Guard, 1971. - p. 189
- ↑ Chuyanov V. A. Physics from "A" to "I". - M., Pedagogy-Press, 2003 .-- ISBN 5-7155-0790-1 . - from. 376
- ↑ Niels Bohr Philosophy of Natural Science and Culture of Peoples // Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge. - M: IL, 1961 .-- S. 39.
- ↑ L. Rosenfeld Development of the principle of complementarity // Niels Bohr. Life and art. - M., Nauka, 1967. - Circulation 31000 copies. - from. 61-87
- ↑ V.A. Bazhanov. Complementarity (principle) // Encyclopedia of Epistemology and Philosophy of Science / Compilation and General Edition. I.T. Kasavin . - Moscow: “Canon +” ROOI “Rehabilitation”, 2009. - P. 210. - 1248 p. - 800 copies. - ISBN 978-5-88373-089-3 .
- ↑ V.N. Porus. ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLE // New Philosophical Encyclopedia / Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences ; Nat social science fund; Pres scientific ed. Council V. S. Styopin , alternate representatives: A. A. Huseynov , G. Yu. Semigin , school. sec. A.P. Ogurtsov . - 2nd ed., Rev. and extra. - M .: Thought , 2010 .-- ISBN 978-5-244-01115-9 .
- ↑ Wheeler experiment confirmed the principle of complementarity for atoms
- ↑ Scientists have confirmed Wheeler’s mental quantum experiment using individual atoms as an example.