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How the Quantum Eraser Rewrites the Past | Space Time | PBS Digital Studios

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PBS Space Time explains the quantum eraser experiment, in which erasing which-path information appears to reverse causality in a double-slit setup. It discusses what this means for quantum mechanics.

HN recommends it as a quick introduction to the quantum eraser and delayed choice weirdness, though one commenter notes later corrections to its framing.

8 comments from Hacker News

@mbell2020-02 · in “Double Slits with Single Atoms”

If you place a detector in front of (or behind!) the slits the wave function collapses and there is no interference pattern. This is all part of the mystery of it, as soon as you 'observe' a particle, in any way, it stops acting like a wave. See the Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser experiment for even more weirdness, a good video on it: ▶ this video

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@mitchty2019-10 · in “Double Slit Experiment No Mystery”

Indeed, a quick video from space time for those being first introduced. It’ll likely make you even more confused to the double slit experiment. ▶ this video

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@comboy2019-03 · in “Experimental rejection of observer-independence in the quantum world”

Here's a dumbed down version: link Also not directly related video if you like your mind being blown: ▶ this video Especially given how our understanding of the world changed during the last 200 years, I would say we are still very much clueless. I find that exciting. Btw, no idea why did researchers get "freedom of choice" involved.

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@chakalakasp2017-03 · in “NIST Physicists Show Ion Pairs Perform Enhanced 'Spooky Action'”

One of the more head exploding experiments I've seen regarding entanglement is this one: link By all apparences, it seems to violate causality. It's one of those things that make you suddenly stop and bemusedly wonder if maybe we've finally found a kludge in the Universe's code. edit BTW, if you'd like to know more about this experiment and why it has ridiculous implications, check this PBS clip: ▶ this video

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@calny2025-02 · in “Time Warp: Delayed-choice quantum erasure”

PBS Spacetime did an interesting video on DCQE, but it tripped me up trying to fully understand what was happening: ▶ this video ... Later Sabine Hossenfelder did a video debunking the proposition that DCQE somehow showed that the past was being rewritten. link And Matt from PBS Spacetime acknowledged she was right in this respectful comment: > Sabine, this is amazing. You are, as usual, 100% right. The delayed choice quantum eraser is a prime example of over-mystification of quantum mechanics, even WITHIN the field of quantum mechanics! I (Matt) was guilty of embracing the quantum woo in that episode 5 years ago. Since then I've obsessed over this family of experiments and my thinking shifted quite a bit.

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