I am a Particle, or am I a wave?
		         Quantum Theory and Pete Townshend

After reading Schroedinger's Cat, my head was throbbing from all of the new information that I didn't really understand. For those of you who have read the book, or any other books about Quantum Physics, you can relate (and for those of you who haven't, just think back to the last time you read something really difficult). Coupled with the fact that I read most of the book between the hours of midnight and eight in the moring, my understanding of these topics was somewhat lacking.

The day after I finished reading the book, I was sitting in my roomates chair (lovingly called the ugly chair) listening to music, when I heard something familiar. I was listening to Peter Townshend's Empty Glass, and one of the songs reminded me of, of all things, Quantum Physics.

Everything was there, wave/particle duality, parallel dimensions, Heisenberg's Uncertanty Principle and the observer created reality (well, O.K., everything in Quantum Physics isn't in there, but it's only 3:46 long, what do you expect?).

From the first verse Townshend puts forth the notion of observer created reality, when he writes:

		I was always here in the silence
		But I was never under your eye
		Gather up your love in some wiseness
		For every memory shall always survive
		And you will see me

Now bear with me here, I'm going to discuss some theoretical stuff. In the theory of observer created reality, nothing really exists in any state until it is observed, or conversly perhaps everthing exists in every possible way. The world of Quantum Physics is filled with probabilties and chance, as well as phantom particles, and parallel universes full of every possible occurance. In Quantum theory there is a principle known as Wave/Particl duality, which states that everything is composed of waves, and at the same time, everything is composed of particles, it just depends on what you look for. In this way the universe is participatory, and bends to suit the observer. Probability determines the way that the particles or waves react, but the observer determines what form the will take when he or she sets up the experiment.

Light is the most commonly refered to example of this principle. For many years it was believed that light travelled in waves, and all of the experiments done on light took this into account. But then along came old Albert Einstein, who wrote a paper in 1905 that won the Nobel Prize for Physics on light. The paper was on the Photoelectric effect and was what many refer to as the beginning of Quantum Physics. Einstein's work on the Photoelectric effect brought the realization among physicists that light had to be thought of in terms of particles and waves.

This wave/particle duality is another thing that I found paralleled in the song. Townshend says that he is an animal, and that he is a vegetable. These are two undeniably different states. He also states that he is a human being, and that he is an angel, again two different states, but all existing at the same time, depending on how you observe him.

In Quantum Physics, the primary particle is the Quan, which is defined as anything smaller than an atom. Quans exist as Photons, Electrons, Neutrons, you name it, if it's smaller than an atom, it's a quan. These particles exist in a state of uncertanty which is expressed in Heisenbergs Uncertanty Principle: If you know the position of a quan at any given time, then you cannot know it's momentum, or which direction it is travelling, and vice versa. This is not an attack on present methods of experimentation, it merely means that no matter how well an experiment is set up, we will never overcome the uncertanty principle (unfortunatly this is not Star-Trek, there are no Heisenberg Compensators). The uncertanty principle means that particles could be anywhere going anywhere.

Pete expresses the uncertanty principle in the line: I was never under your eye. Quans may be under our eye, but when we find their position, we cannot find their momentum. The world of the Quan is a wild and wacky place full of uncertanty and probability. A particle might be right in front of you, or it might be on the otherside of the universe. Perhaps as Pete says Quans are "Queen of the f*cking universe" seeing as how they can be anywhere they want to.

Another idea of Quantum Physics espoused by this song is the theory of parallel worlds. In Scroedinger's Cat, John Gribbin does not go into extreme depth on this subject as it is still under much debate by physicists whether or not parallel universes actually exist. Gribbin believes in them, however, and devotes the final chapter of the book to this and other subjects that are not accepted by all of mainstream science.

Parallel Univese Theory states that there are many different universes in existance at the same time, and that all occurances happen in these separate universes. These universes do not diverge in the classic sense known as parallel, but rather at 90 degree angles. Thus the universe is filled with many, many different probabilities. Gribbin explains that in most quantum experiments are made up of possibilities, is Schrodinger's Cat alive or dead?, which hole do the particles, or waves go through in the two hole experiment?, is the quan a particle or a wave?. In the parallel, or perhaps a better term would be perpendicular, universe theory all of the probabilities happen in one universe or another.

Pete refers to the parallel universe theory when he says:

		for every memory will always survive

Quans also seem to have the ability to travel through time, as pete sings:

		I'm looking back and I can't see the past
		Anymore so hazy
		I'm on a track and I'm travelling so fast 
		Oh for sure I'm crazy.

Pete can't see the past, because it is hazy, but a quan can see or go anywhere. Because of the laws of probability there is a chance that a particle can be anywhere, anywhen. For a quan the past isn't hazy, it's crystal clear because the quan is there as well as here. This is one of the aspects of Quantum Physics that is most disturbing. The quan appears to have no real boundries, which is a disturbing fact since quans make up everything in the universe. Matter is formed when quans get together and give our world the appearance of solidity. However, almost all of the "matter" that we see is made up of the empty space between the quans. Add this to the fact that quans could be here or they could just as likely be somewhere else. The particles making up the air around us could be surrounding us in a room, or they could all collect in the corners of the room (according to the laws of probability this could happen). But I've gotten away from my point (and probably have stopped making sense).

I have talked of Schrodinger's Cat, but I have not explained what the experiment is. According to a page maintained by Ard Lewis located here:

   A cat is placed in a box, together with a radioactive atom. If the
   atom decays, and the geiger-counter detects an alpha particle, the
   hammer hits a flask of prussic acid (HCN), killing the cat. The
   paradox lies in the clever coupling of quantum and classical domains.
   Before the observer opens the box, the cat's fate is tied to the wave
   function of the atom, which is itself in a superposition of decayed
   and undecayed states. Thus, said Schroedinger, the cat must itself be
   in a superposition of dead and alive states before the observer opens   
   the box, ``observes'' the cat, and ``collapses'' it's wave function.

This is the famous thought experiment proposed by Schrodinger to show the peculiarities of the quantum world.

In a later song on the album titled Cat's in the Cupboard Pete sings:

	Cat's in the cupboard
	You've got to set him free
	Cat's in th cupboard you've got to set him free
	Cat's in the cupboard
	You must set him free

Is Pete trying to tell us something? Should we let Schrodinger's cat out of the cupboard. When we do, the probability wave collapses and becomes a certanty. The cat is now alive or the cat is dead. There is no more debate. Although I wonder if our box were thin enough for the cat to make it's own decision as to whether or not it was dead, by getting out of the box if it would make a difference.

Another song which relates to this view is And I Moved. Which says:

	And I moved
	As I saw him looking in through my window

The particle/wave duality of the quantum world hinges apon the observations of the viewers. A particle exits in a probability wave-that is, in all states-until the obsever assigns it to a particular state. Depending on on our observations and how we observe the uniberse is molded around us. This is truly the observer created reality. The universe exists because we observe it, but who observes us? Who causes us to exist? That is a question that I cannot answer.

As scientists discover more about the quantum world, it entices them to ask more questions and sends them in a cycle that doesn't end. There will always be more questions to answer, each tantalizing clue is a part of the bigger mystery that is no doubt a part of another mystery. These little clues are enough to spur us on.

As Pete sings in the final song of the album Empty Glass, A Little is Enough:

	They say that love often passes in a second
	And you never can catch it up
	So I'm hanging on to you as though eternity beckoned
	But that's clear that the match is rough
	Common sense 'd tell me not to try 'n continue
	But I'm after a piece of that diamond in you
	So keep an eye open
	My spirit ain't broken
	Your love's so incredible
	Your body so edible
	You give me an overdose of love
	Just a little is enough

For physicists, a little of the overall picture is not enough to satisfy, but it is enough to keep them searching for answers. The universe is an incredible place, and the match is rough between us and the changing universe. We may not understand it always, but we will continue to try. The cat is in the cupboard and we have to let him out. The universe will move, and a little will never be enough, but it will keep us going, it will keep our eyes open.

I may have made some leaps here, and no doubt I rambled alot from place to place. But as the universe is forever changing and evolving, so are our thoughts. If I was unclear on some of the points I urge you to visit the Quantum Poetry team's links and read further on the relationship between the sciences and art. (Also listen to the Who. They are the greatest rock band in the world, no matter what Stones fans say)