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Re: Simple random number generator?
Posted:
Dec 16, 2012 6:43 PM
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In article <slrnkcsl5f.3ro.hrubin@skew.stat.purdue.edu>,
Herman Rubin <hrubin@skew.stat.purdue.edu> wrote:
> On 2012-12-15, Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > In article <OjcVDZPLshyQFw5g@invalid.uk.co.demon.merlyn.invalid>,
> > Dr J R Stockton <reply1250@merlyn.demon.co.uk.invalid> wrote:
>
> >> In sci.math message <rubrum-471E53.18462311122012@news.albasani.net>,
> >> Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:46:23, Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> posted:
>
>
> >> >I do not see how quantum effects can be used to generate
> >> >random sequences.
>
> >> Radioactive decay is due to quantum effects, and there is a fixed
> >> probability for each atom to decay in the next time interval.
>
> > From what does the unpredictability of radioactive decay arise?
>
> From the assumption that the atoms decay in a random manner. This
> gives unpredictability. The other quantum assumptions say that
> the decays of the various atoms are independent, and that the
> decay is at an exponential rate.
>
> The msin assumption in this is that the probability that an
> atom which has not decayed by time T will still have a probability
> of decay between T and U which is independent of anything which has
> happened before time T, and only depends on U-T.
I am asking for the basis of the unpredictability
in physical theory. Assuming it is random is to
beg the question.
I hold that the wave theory of matter does not
predict random occurrences.
--
Michael Press
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