Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right

The gamification of law, in relation to calibration, involves designing legal processes and systems with feedback mechanisms and incentives to align behaviour with desired outcomes, ensuring compliance is both engaging and optimised for fairness.

The idiom “two wrongs don’t make a right” has its origins in moral philosophy and ethical reasoning, and it conveys the principle that one person’s wrongdoing does not justify another person’s retaliation or misconduct. While the exact origin of the phrase is not entirely clear, its sentiment can be traced back to ancient teachings and early philosophical writings.

It’s connection to “holding something in contempt” lies in the way we respond to perceived wrongs or disdain.

For instance:

If someone holds a law, system, or person in contempt due to perceived wrongdoing, and they choose to act unjustly or harmfully in retaliation, they are committing a second wrong. This would violate the principle of “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

The idea is that contempt or disapproval should not justify unethical or harmful actions, as it perpetuates a cycle of wrongdoing rather than resolving the issue constructively.

Although there is no inherent connection to quantum mechanics, as it is primarily a moral and philosophical principle, not a scientific concept.

However, if you were to draw a metaphorical or conceptual link between the two, it might involve interpreting the phrase through the lens of quantum principles or ethical debates within quantum interpretations.

The Scenario

Identical particles observed in the same superposition and state, yet not entangled or sharing the same wave function—presents a situation where particles must be brought onto a shared wave function through specific interactions or manipulations.

Observable Phenomena & Manipulations

1. Coupling Through Interaction

Particles that are initially independent can be brought onto a shared wave function by inducing interaction.

For example:

• Placing them in a shared quantum field (e.g., a potential well or cavity).

• Allowing them to exchange virtual particles or interact electromagnetically.

  
  

2. Symmetrisation for Identical Particles

Identical particles naturally tend to occupy shared quantum states due to symmetry requirements:

• Bosons (integer-spin particles): Symmetrise into the same wave function when indistinguishable.

• Fermions (half-integer spin particles): Obey the Pauli exclusion principle, which prevents exact overlap in all quantum numbers but still enforces an antisymmetric combined wave function.

  
  

3. Quantum Interference

Experiments such as the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) effect show how indistinguishable particles, when interacting via a beam splitter or similar setup, can be manipulated onto the same wave function.

4. Controlled Entanglement

Particles can be made to share a wave function by entangling them through:

• Interaction with the same quantum system (e.g., a cavity or atomic trap).

• Processes like quantum teleportation or coupling to shared photons.

Well-Known Experiments & Observables

1. Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) Experiment

• What Happens:

  
  

Two photons, initially independent but indistinguishable in all quantum properties (same superposition, same measurable quantities), are sent into a beam splitter. Their indistinguishability causes them to interfere, producing a shared quantum state. The result is “photon bunching” where both photons exit the same port.

• Observable Phenomenon:

The absence of coincidence detection at the output ports confirms quantum interference and the creation of a shared wave function.

• Relevance:

  
  

Demonstrates how initially independent particles can be manipulated into a single quantum system through indistinguishability.

• Key Experimenters:

  
  

Hong, Ou, and Mandel (1987).

3. Entanglement of Neutral Atoms or Photons

What Happens:

Independent particles can be entangled by coupling them to a common mediator (e.g., a photon or phonon). For example, two neutral atoms in an optical trap can be entangled via shared interaction with laser light.

Observable Phenomenon:

Correlations in measurements (e.g., spin or polarisation) confirm that particles now share a wave function.

Relevance:

This is a direct application of creating a shared quantum state from initially independent systems.

Key Experimenters:

Researchers in atomic entanglement, such as David Wineland (Nobel Prize, 2012).

4. Quantum Computing and Quantum Networks

What Happens:

Independent qubits (photons, ions, or superconducting states) are coupled into a shared wave function for computation. Controlled interactions (e.g., through quantum gates or shared photons) create a unified quantum state.

Observable Phenomenon:

Coherence and entanglement across qubits demonstrate manipulation into a single wave function.

Relevance:

Practical example of combining independent particles into a shared quantum system for functional purposes.

Key Experimenters:

Pioneers in quantum computing like John Preskill and Peter Shor.