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This website is a portal to the Institute of Noetic Sciences online double-slit experiment, a study which is part of our research program exploring the role of consciousness in the physical world. During the experiment data from an optical system in our laboratory is streamed live to your web browser, in close to real-time. We use a double-slit optical system because, as the Nobel Laureate physicist Richard Feynman famously said, "[The double-slit experiment] has in it the heart of quantum mechanics. In reality, it contains the only mystery."
The double-slit experiment is especially useful in the present context because it provides a way to empirically investigate the meaning of "observation" in the measurement of quantum systems. In particular, one interpretation of how quantum wave-like potentials become particle-like actualities is because consciousness "collapses" the quantum wavefunction.This controversial interpretation was proposed by von Neumann and other prominent physicists, and while much has been written about this quantum measurement problem from philosophical and theoretical perspectives, we are taking an empirical approach.
The study design is based on two assumptions: (1) If information is gained about the photon’s path as it travels through two slits – gained by any means – then the interference pattern will collapse in proportion to the certainty of the knowledge gained. (2) If some aspect of consciousness is a primordial, self-aware feature of the fabric of reality, and that property is modulated through attention and intention, then focused attention alone directed at a double-slit system may affect the interference pattern in predictable ways.
We have been conducting similar mind-matter interaction experiments using optical systems since 2006. An article describing our initial results with a Michelson interferometer is available here. A more recent article describing our research with the double-slit system used in this experiment was published in 2012 in the journal Physics Essays.
To login or register for the experiment, please see the menu on the left side of this page. |
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Five previous experiments have used optical interferometers to investigate the role of consciousness in the quantum measurement problem. The interferometers involved a double-slit design, a Fabry-Perot configuration, and a Michelson configuration. All of these studies were interested in testing whether the mind's eye alone would affect the interference pattern.
Initial studies were conducted at York University and Princeton University. The York team reported a non-significant effect while the Princeton team reported two studies with significant effects in the predicted direction. We conducted a fourth experiment using a Michelson interferometer, which showed significant results in the predicted direction. We followed up that study with a series of six experiments using an optically sealed double-slit system. An article describing that experiment, which again provides statistically significant results in the predicted direction, can be found in the journal Physics Essays.
Given the importance of the quantum measurement problem in the interpretation of quantum theory, and the potential of this type of experiment to inform it empirically, we designed the present study to test whether results similar to those we have observed in the laboratory can be obtained when participants are located at a distance from the laboratory. |
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For videos describing the experimental task, please visit this website.
This experiment streams data in close to real-time directly to your browser. One test session takes about 12 minutes, so if someone else is using the system when you attempt to access it, you may see a message informing you when the server will be available again.
The experiment has been tested on the latest version of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. It should work on nearly any modern PC and browser, including Android and other smartphones that can play Flash (this excludes the iPhone). It does require an up to date Flash player (version 10 or better). The internet bandwidth required is minimal. If you can play a YouTube video on your PC, then this experiment should work.
Please note that while every effort is made to have the system up and running 24/7, it is possible occasionally to connect to the server and everything seems fine, but when you click to start the test nothing happens. This is a known bug that we are attempting to fix. If this happens, then wait at least 10 minutes and try again. Most users have reported that most of the time the experiment works fine.
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