Sam Powers
@sampowers.bsky.social
Physicist | quantum foundations | Go Bills
Reposted by Sam Powers
Let me try to explain why it's important to study the foundations of quantum mechanics. (1/n)
(Have to do some breathing exercises, b/c to me it's blindingly obvious that "understanding the most important theory in physics" is something physicists should care about, but apparently opinions differ.)
(Have to do some breathing exercises, b/c to me it's blindingly obvious that "understanding the most important theory in physics" is something physicists should care about, but apparently opinions differ.)
Nature (and @lizziegibney.bsky.social) take a more-than-usually systematic look at the greatest failure of modern physics: the fact that we can't even agree on what quantum mechanics says.
And the leader is an approach that is notoriously not well-defined. Ugh.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
And the leader is an approach that is notoriously not well-defined. Ugh.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
July 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Let me try to explain why it's important to study the foundations of quantum mechanics. (1/n)
(Have to do some breathing exercises, b/c to me it's blindingly obvious that "understanding the most important theory in physics" is something physicists should care about, but apparently opinions differ.)
(Have to do some breathing exercises, b/c to me it's blindingly obvious that "understanding the most important theory in physics" is something physicists should care about, but apparently opinions differ.)
Reposted by Sam Powers
Zelensky is a hero by any sensible measure. A leader inspiring his nation in the midst of an invasion by a powerful, repressive dictatorship. The fact that any American can think of him as the bad guy just demonstrates the triumph of tribalism over principle.
Republicans are lining up to denounce Zelensky because their base was seduced by a cranky old racist with a fondness for dictators. Just wild how the whims, prejudices, and weird obsessions of a senile 78-year-old have completely supplanted the party’s priorities — and reshuffled the world order.
March 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Zelensky is a hero by any sensible measure. A leader inspiring his nation in the midst of an invasion by a powerful, repressive dictatorship. The fact that any American can think of him as the bad guy just demonstrates the triumph of tribalism over principle.
Daily updates to the asteroid impact probability should be fun for the next few years.
February 6, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Daily updates to the asteroid impact probability should be fun for the next few years.
Now published in PRA.
Read if you are interested in quantum foundations, or just enjoy a good mystery.
We use 0s and 1s to model arbitrary spin systems interacting with two rotated Stern-Gerlach detectors. We then extend the model to photon number states interacting with a beam splitter.
Read if you are interested in quantum foundations, or just enjoy a good mystery.
We use 0s and 1s to model arbitrary spin systems interacting with two rotated Stern-Gerlach detectors. We then extend the model to photon number states interacting with a beam splitter.
Statistical model for quantum spin and photon number states
The most irreducible way to represent information is a sequence of two symbols. In this paper, we construct quantum states using this basic building block. Specifically, we show that the probabilities...
journals.aps.org
January 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Now published in PRA.
Read if you are interested in quantum foundations, or just enjoy a good mystery.
We use 0s and 1s to model arbitrary spin systems interacting with two rotated Stern-Gerlach detectors. We then extend the model to photon number states interacting with a beam splitter.
Read if you are interested in quantum foundations, or just enjoy a good mystery.
We use 0s and 1s to model arbitrary spin systems interacting with two rotated Stern-Gerlach detectors. We then extend the model to photon number states interacting with a beam splitter.
Reposted by Sam Powers
Today I was asked in an interview about folks who use the weirdness of ✨quantum✨ to hawk pseudoscience junk. I think that kind of grift proliferates because of a big misunderstanding a lot of folks have about quantum mechanics, which is not really their fault!
🧵
🧵
January 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Today I was asked in an interview about folks who use the weirdness of ✨quantum✨ to hawk pseudoscience junk. I think that kind of grift proliferates because of a big misunderstanding a lot of folks have about quantum mechanics, which is not really their fault!
🧵
🧵
Coming soon to PRA! Three years after writing began and about 1.5 years of peer review.
I really hope you like it.
I really hope you like it.
A statistical model for quantum spin and photon number states
The most irreducible way to represent information is a sequence of two symbols. In this paper, we construct quantum states using this basic building block. Specifically, we show that the probabilities...
arxiv.org
December 20, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Coming soon to PRA! Three years after writing began and about 1.5 years of peer review.
I really hope you like it.
I really hope you like it.
Reposted by Sam Powers
Confession. I do not believe in parallel universes nor the multiverse.
December 11, 2024 at 2:19 AM
Confession. I do not believe in parallel universes nor the multiverse.
I stole my profile picture from @quantamagazine.bsky.social
November 27, 2024 at 2:31 PM
I stole my profile picture from @quantamagazine.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Powers
Alright NFL Bluesky: I put together a starter pack of some of my favorite follows on Sunday…
Will continue adding to this but please share if you’re so inclined:
go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH
Will continue adding to this but please share if you’re so inclined:
go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH
November 26, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Alright NFL Bluesky: I put together a starter pack of some of my favorite follows on Sunday…
Will continue adding to this but please share if you’re so inclined:
go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH
Will continue adding to this but please share if you’re so inclined:
go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH
Reposted by Sam Powers
Mina Kimes on the migration from X to Bluesky: "We are conflating egregious racism and misogyny with diversity of thought, or with reasonable opinion and disagreements.”
http://dlvr.it/TGM3pm
http://dlvr.it/TGM3pm
Mina Kimes denies claims Bluesky is a liberal echo chamber amid 'Xodus'
ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes explained her decision to leave X for Bluesky and why it's more than just a political choice.
dlvr.it
November 24, 2024 at 1:41 AM
Mina Kimes on the migration from X to Bluesky: "We are conflating egregious racism and misogyny with diversity of thought, or with reasonable opinion and disagreements.”
http://dlvr.it/TGM3pm
http://dlvr.it/TGM3pm
celebrity apprentice goes to the white house
November 20, 2024 at 12:01 PM
celebrity apprentice goes to the white house
Primaries are important.
November 6, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Primaries are important.
Have any thoughts on the statistical interpretation of quantum theory?
October 4, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Have any thoughts on the statistical interpretation of quantum theory?