Sorites Paradox: Many-Body Systems And How Few Particles Become A 'Heap'
Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 10:30
in Physics & Chemistry
At some point the exact number of particles in a group becomes irrelevant.But does when a collection of elements forms a "heap" ?In recent experiments using ultracold atoms, Heidelberg physicists succeeded in observing the transition to a many-body system well described by an infinite number of particles - a problem philosophers call the sorites paradox. The essential question is when a collection of elements forms a "heap". read more