Chapter 35: I need you to explain the quantum physics of telepathy.
"I know you're really busy," I interrupted Rodney. We were on the Orion and I'd been standing watching him reconfiguring some crystal control modules for a few minutes before I realised he just wasn't going to stop. Rodney did nothing more than glance briefly up at me.
"I need you to explain the quantum physics of telepathy to me," I told him, hoping that might spark his interest.
"What makes you think the two are related?" Rodney stopped what he was doing and glanced at me curiously.
"Because Doctor Heightmeyer said they were," I replied, "and because the telepathic expansion device showed me some really confusing images that would only make sense if some kind of scientific theory was attached to them."
"Look, reality is made up of two different worlds," Rodney got up and tapped out some instructions on his computer while talking to me. "The classic physical world where things like Newton's laws can accurately and logically predict the behaviour of objects ... and the quantum world where sub-atomic particles behave in bizarre and paradoxical ways that defy those laws."
"How is that related to telepathy?" I asked, intrigued.
"There are a few different theories," Rodney explained, "based around the quantum principles of superposition and nonlocal quantum entanglement." Seeing my blank look Rodney tried to expand on what he was saying. "Experiments have been done to prove that at the sub-atomic level two or more particles can exist in the same place or state simultaneously. The multiverse theory suggests that there's a universe for every possible state and mechanisms so that the states can interact and be influenced by the others. Nonlocal quantum entanglement - "spooky action at a distance" - suggests that particles separated in time and distance are actually intimately connected."
"So what you're saying is that telepathy works because all states exist together, interact, and can be influenced and that they're all intimately connected no matter how far apart they are?" I summarised what I'd understood from his lecture.
"Something like that, although it's much more complex." Rodney thought for a minute and then clicked his fingers as an idea came to him. "Think of a specific Wraith you want to connect to. In the classic world you'd have to find him first and then travel the distance necessary to get to him and when you got there he might already have gone somewhere else or just not be willing to talk to you. Telepathy wouldn't exist because you'd have to pick up the Wraith thoughts over a huge distance, travelling through walls, water, planets – the classic laws of physics say that's just impossible. In the quantum world the two of you exist simultaneously in states that can access each other directly – even separated by distance and time the quantum connection between you would allow you to instantaneously communicate."
"Wouldn't that mean the Wraith telepathy should be more than the short range we know it is?" I asked curiously.
"As a matter of fact it would," Rodney seemed almost pleased that I'd asked something that meant I actually understood what he's told me.
"So why isn't it?" I persisted.
"I don't know," Rodney complained. "Maybe it is and they just don't know it – after all you have to believe the connection is there. Perhaps the Wraith aren't capable of that level of absolute belief."
"If the Ancients were trying to measure or access the quantum connections what would it look like on one of these?" I gestured to the Orion display screens.
"I can show you a few different ways to test for or depict things in quantum physics," Rodney offered.
"Do you have time to do something quick right now?" I looked at him with a pleading look.
"I suppose," Rodney said grudgingly, "but if the Orion isn't finished on time you can tell Elizabeth you wasted some time on quantum mechanics."
"Thanks Rodney," I said gratefully, watching intently as he brought up various displays and explained what they were showing. My brain felt severely taxed by the time he'd shown me what he could and I wearily made contact with John to get a lift back to Atlantis.
It was pretty late in the day but I thought perhaps there'd be enough time to make one more attempt at using TED that day. On the way back to Atlantis I turned to John and asked "Can we go back to the Dart for just a bit?"
"Do you want to try again?" John asked.
"I'm not going to try controlling the Dart," I replied. "I just want to access TED and see if I can record some displays relating to the Dart – I had my laptop hooked up last time but because I didn't know what I was looking at, what I recorded was all garbled and useless. If I can get a good record I can study it and see where I went wrong."
"Okay," John agreed, "but only for a short stay."
When we got close to the Darts location I said "You can just drop me off here."
"You're not gonna hurt me," John protested.
"Better to be safe than sorry," I retorted. "Look, you don't have to abandon me here – can't you hover in this thing?"
John thought for a moment before nodding "Okay."
I set everything up as before, trying to calm my breathing and my mind before putting my hand on the device. This time the displays I was seeing were familiar, especially the ones on brain activity I'd seen already that day with Doctor Beckett. The information was still a bit overwhelming but it wasn't drawing me under like before.
Focussing sharply I thought only about Wraith technology and was rewarded when TED displayed a series of charts and text via the laptop link. There were commands there I could have executed but I decided just getting the information was enough for one day. I stepped back from the device and waved up at John to come and get me.
"No headaches," John announced when he opened the hatch for me.
"That's a relief," I said wearily. "I'm just gonna stretch out back here ... wake me when we get back to Atlantis."
The short rest in the Jumper revived me enough to take what I'd recorded on my laptop back down to my lab and start analysing it. I could see John wanted to protest that it was late but thought better of it when I narrowed my eyes ready to argue.
"I'll just spend a couple of hours looking at this stuff," I promised.
"Make sure it's not more than that," John ordered sternly.
Back in my lab I called up the information I'd gathered and settled in to try and work out what I had. If I was reading the information correctly, the device might actually be easier to operate than I'd originally thought. Sure, there was a lot of information – once activated TED seemed to be monitoring everything it was possible to monitor about the operator. There were also many displays dealing with the quantum mechanics Rodney had briefly explained to me. I wasn't a physicist though, and unlikely to become one any time in the next century ... hopefully what I was reading about the device meant that I didn't have to understand that aspect in order to make use of it.
When a big cracking yawn overtook me I realised I'd been at it well beyond the time I'd promised. Quickly shutting everything off I almost sprinted from the lab heading up to John's quarters.
"Hey," I greeted him breathlessly.
"You're late," John pointed out. From the way he was stretched out on the bed with his book it was clear he'd been there a while.
"True," I agreed, "but compared to my usual performance in that department I'm actually early. So you should be congratulating me." I smiled winningly.
"Sadly, I can't argue with that," John laughed, reaching out to pull me down to him. "Solved the mysteries of existence yet?"
"Almost," I joked. "My brain hurts ... seriously I can feel the stuff I tried to learn today burrowing in like a drill. And before you say it," I held up a hand to hold off the words I knew he was going to say, "I don't need anything from Doctor Beckett – I just need rest."
"I can help with that," John patted the spot next to him.
"I'll just lie here for a few minutes," I agreed, stretching out next to him so that he was spooned behind me. Closing my eyes I sighed – it was relaxing to listen to John breathing as he continued reading his book. I fell asleep before he'd reached his daily page quota.
Authors Note:
The idea that telepathy could be explained via quantum physics came from a range of sources including an article by Dr. Stephen Juan in the Canadian National Post; physicsworld dot com; and science dot howstuffworks dot com. My physics knowledge is basic first year uni from some time ago so apologies for any errors/inaccuracies that made it into this chapter.