Quantum mechanics vs relativity theory? which 1 is more correct?

Question

I heard my russian friend said that some scientists had recently proved quantum mechanics wrong. and that the Relativity theory by Einstein were actually right? is that true? I couldn't find those specific articles on-line. I am very interested to know.

Answer 1

Ask your friend if those scientists are still using vacuum tubes, manual typewriters, and sneaker-net (that's bi-pedal data transfer). Almost all modern scientific disciplines are based on QM discoveries, including chemistry and biology.

Without QM, the information age would not exist.

http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~ianb/histor...

Answer 2

They are both correct.  If quantum mechanics wasn't correct, MRI machines wouldn't work.  And if general relativity wasn't correct, GPS systems wouldn't work.  They just don't agree when you try to merge the very big (GR) with the very small (QM) without adding another 9 or so dimensions.

Answer 3

Well, quantum mechanics and SPECIAL relativity have been unified into a single framework, starting with the Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations, which has led to the development of quantum field theory. Quantum field theories for electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces make up the standard model of particle physics.

Quantum field theory, however, is problematic as infinite quantities arise, requiring techniques to "ignore" them, called renormalization. This works fine until you get to Einstein's theory of GENERAL relativity. General relativity is Einstein's theory of gravity and special relativity is Einstein's theory of physics in different reference frames (which also states that nothing can go faster than light). The problem with general relativity is that when trying to create a quantum field theory for it, these infinities can't be "ignored" anymore by the standard techniques we have.

One way to get quantum field theory and general relativity to agree is to come up with an underlying theory that results in quantum field theory, but does not result in these infinities. Such a theory was constructed using strings, and is now called string theory. Another approach is loop quantum gravity, which is a bit harder to explain quickly, but basically uses loops to describe gravity.

I said all that to say this: most physicists would answer that general relativity breaks down at an energy scale called the planck scale, which comes as a result of applying quantum field theory to gravity. However, quantum field theories are now regarded merely as effective theories up to a certain energy scale, called the cutoff. Pas that they also break down. So in short, both quantum field theory and general relativity are wrong at high enough energies. Unfortunately, our particle accelerators are far to weak to probe the energy scales at which these theories break down.

Answer 4

I don't believe either one is wrong.  Currently scientists are struggling for a way to unite the two theories.  They are how ever two different theories and they aren't competing for the same area.  Quantum deals with particle matter and smaller, subatomic particles.  Relativity deals with all things larger than particles.  I believe the argument is in how to unite the two.