Question

The discoveries of quantum mechanics from what I’ve read often seem to imply that things could have been different. For example, because an atom’s exact decay point is unpredictable, it is assumed that it could have decayed with a certain non zero probability otherwise.

But these probabilities are calculated as frequencies from data, correct? From what I understand, we observe, for example, how many atoms decay after a certain point, look at their respective frequencies, and then attach a probability to it after the fact.

But how exactly does this logically imply that a particular atom could have decayed at another time. Even if there was no hidden variable governing its decay time exactly, why does this imply that it could have decayed at some time else? All we have is frequencies of atoms decaying after certain time periods, but we cannot actually rewind time. Given this, where did this notion of possibility and things happening otherwise come from?

Answer 1

Quantum mechanics tells us that atomic decay is probabilistic and not predetermined. Probability distributions are calculated based on frequency data from experiments, suggesting that atoms could have decayed at different times. The notion of possibility arises from the observation of these probability distributions and the mathematical equations that describe them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Quantum mechanics tells us that the properties of particles, such as the decay point of an atom, are probabilistic rather than deterministic. These probabilities are calculated based on frequency data obtained from experiments. While we cannot actually rewind time to observe a different outcome, the calculations tell us that there is a non-zero chance that the atom could have decayed at a different time. The notion of possibility and things happening otherwise comes from the observation of probability distributions and the mathematical equations that describe them in quantum mechanics.