TacitKnowledge

There seems to be a general perception that quantum mechanics denies 'objectivity'. What is the ontology on which quantum theory is founded and how does it differ from the ontology of classical physics? We seek the answer in the phenomena of entanglement and decoherence within a broadly Kantian framework. Click here to read

  Decoherence theory promises to restore the compatibility of the measurement postulate with the rest of the basic principles of quantum theory including, in particular, the unitary Schroedinger evolution. The process of environmental decoherence of the apparatus states follows a couple of general but simple principles --- these include the one relating to the decoherence time which can be as short as the Planck time-scale. As the Planck scale is crossed, quantum theory is likely to give way to a radically new theoretical framework in which many of the now familiar concepts will appear in a strange new light. click here to read

How the mind gets to know and understand reality at large and, at the same time, the self.  An attempt at capturing the interaction between  three impossibly complex systems ..... [a book in six chapters] Click here to read

This country is passing through turbulent times. There is a perception of darkness creeping in due to irresponsible and belligerent political stand of powerful forces within the country and abroad. Well-meaning and sensible people across communities are divided in their loyalties to warring camps. It is in this context that the RSS appears to be taking a new turn towards national reconciliation. How relevant can it prove to be in our life today? Click here to read

 Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has been chosen as the NDA candidate for the post of vice-president of India. This is a welcome piece of news but, at the same time, it is a sad day for the people of West Bengal. For the past several years Shri Dhankhad has valiantly stood for the voice of democracy and rule of law in what can truly be termed a rogue state in the way the ruling dispensation has been conducting the affairs of this state, practicing a brand of depraved politics that has very few parallels in history. For this he has been persecuted, humiliated and insulted to an unprecedented degree from every single level of the ruling hierarchy. But in the midst all this, Shri Dhankhad has stood like a colossus showing a most restrained temperament, mature political sense, and great commitment to the common people of the state. He will be remembered by ordinary folk of this state for having been the lion-hearted guardian of theirs that they found in him. 

The familiar Doppler shift formula assumes that the source and the observer are in uniform motion. However, it is not difficult to generalize to the case of the source and the observer being in arbitrarily specified motion. The present article is adapted from a chapter of my book 'Basic Physics: Principles and Concepts'. Click here to read 

In this essay we take a close look at how the pervasive complexity of nature shapes our conception of reality and our scientific theories. In particular, we examine how scientific realism can be consistent with incommensurability of successively emerging theories and how the expectation of an all-embracing 'ultimate' theory of nature need not be a necessary ingredient of scientific realism. Click to read