Quantum physics and its relationship with ancient Indian scriptures known as the Vedas

 Quantum entanglement and quantum tunneling are two of the most fascinating and mysterious phenomena in quantum physics. They challenge our common sense and defy classical intuition, but they also offer new possibilities for technological applications and scientific discoveries. In this blog post, we will explore what these phenomena are, how they have been observed and verified experimentally, and what are some of their references in the ancient Indian scriptures known as the Vedas.

Quantum entanglement is the phenomenon that occurs when a group of particles are generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in a way such that the quantum state of each particle of the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, even when the particles are separated by a large distance . This means that measuring one particle will instantly reveal information about another particle, as if they were communicating faster than light. This spooky action at a distance, as Einstein called it, violates the principle of local realism, which assumes that physical reality is determined by local causes and that no influence can travel faster than light. Quantum tunneling is the phenomenon that occurs when a quantum particle, such as an electron or a photon, can pass through a potential barrier that would normally be insurmountable according to classical physics . For example, an electron can escape from an atom or a nucleus by tunneling through the electrostatic barrier that binds it. Similarly, a photon can penetrate through a thin layer of metal that would otherwise reflect it completely. The probability of quantum tunneling depends exponentially on the barrier width and height, and it decreases rapidly as the barrier becomes thicker or higher. Both quantum entanglement and quantum tunneling have been confirmed by numerous experiments over the past decades. The first experimental test of quantum entanglement was performed by John Clauser and Stuart Freedman in 1972, using polarized photons from atomic cascades . They measured the correlation between the polarization of two photons that were entangled at their source and found that it violated Bell's inequality, a mathematical criterion that distinguishes between quantum and classical predictions. Later experiments by Alain Aspect, Anton Zeilinger, and others improved the accuracy and eliminated possible loopholes in these tests . The 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Aspect, Clauser, and Zeilinger for their groundbreaking work on measuring and controlling quantum entanglement . The first experimental observation of quantum tunneling was made by Friedrich Hund in 1929, who detected electrons escaping from a metal surface under an applied electric field . Later experiments by Leo Esaki, Ivar Giaever, and Brian Josephson demonstrated quantum tunneling in semiconductors, superconductors, and Josephson junctions, respectively . They shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discoveries regarding tunneling phenomena in solids . Quantum tunneling is also responsible for several natural phenomena, such as nuclear fusion in stars, radioactive decay, and photosynthesis. Interestingly, some of the concepts and implications of quantum entanglement and quantum tunneling have been anticipated or hinted at by ancient Indian sages in the Vedas, which are considered to be the oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The Vedas contain hymns, rituals, philosophy, cosmology, ethics, and metaphysics that reflect the spiritual wisdom and scientific knowledge of ancient India. Some scholars have argued that the Vedas contain references to quantum physics that go beyond mere coincidence or metaphor . For example, one of the most famous verses from the Rig Veda states: "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti", which means "Truth is one; sages call it by various names" . This verse suggests that there is an underlying unity behind all diversity, which could be interpreted as a hint of quantum entanglement. Another verse from the Rig Veda states: "Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan", which means "Smaller than the smallest atom; greater than the greatest space" . This verse implies that there is no limit to how small or large something can be, which could be seen as a hint of quantum tunneling. Another example is from the Upanishads, which are philosophical texts that elaborate on the Vedas. One of the most famous verses from the Upanishads states: "Tat tvam asi", which means "Thou art That" . This verse expresses the identity between the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). This could be interpreted as a hint of the connectedness between all things, which is a feature of quantum entanglement. In short, quantum entanglement and quantum tunneling are two of the most mysterious and fascinating phenomena in quantum physics. They have been confirmed by numerous experiments and have numerous technological and scientific applications. They have also been anticipated or hinted at in the ancient Indian scriptures known as the Vedas, which demonstrate that some of the deepest scientific truths are also accessible to spiritual wisdom.