Theoryland Chronicles

Members :SDog : Quantum Mechanics and Portal Stones

Introduction

The principle behind the Portal Stones in the WoT has always reminded me of various theories in quantum physics. In particular, the “worlds of If” and their associated probabilities resemble fairly strongly the “sum-over-histories” concept developed by Richard Feynman. This concept attempts to determine the history of a particle’s path (or of an entire system) based on the quantum probability (the likelihood) of each possible path.

A Brief and Very Dirty History of “Sum-over-histories”

One of the basic principles of quantum mechanics is that the position of a particle, when it is not being observed, is a matter of probability. That is, until observation, the particle exists everywhere along a certain interval with varying probability (described as a “probability wave”). Once it is observed, that probability collapses to zero everywhere but its observed position. As such, determining the particle’s history becomes a matter of determining the highest probabilities. Physicist Richard Feyman developed the “sum-over-histories” approach (also called “Path Integral” quantum mechanics), whereby the most likely path of a particle is derived from calculating all possible paths and determining the most probable. This concept can be extended to suggest that every alternate path may indeed exist (since an unobserved particle’s location exists as probabilities). The point at which we observe the particle will usually correspond with the point of highest probability (the “peak” of the probability wave).

In summary, a quantum particle exists in infinite locations on a certain interval, and as such can take an infinite amount of paths along that interval. The likelihood of each location or path can be described by a probability wave.

The Portal Stones

In TGH (Ch. 16, “In the Mirror of Darkness”), we learn from Selene through Loial that the worlds of the Portal Stones, the Mirror Worlds, are reflections of the real world. The nature of the Mirror World, it’s features and appearance, are determined by its likelihood of being. Those that are “almost as likely as [the real world]” appear solid, and have people. Others, such as that in which the chapter takes place, are unlikely, and appear pale and lifeless. According to Selene, the Pattern has “infinite variation…and every variation that can be, will be.”

In TDR (Ch. 21, “A World of Dreams”), Verin tells Egwene that the worlds reached by the Portal Stones are, “worlds that might exist if different choices had been made, if major turning points in the Pattern had gone another way.” Also, in TGH (Ch. 37, “What Might Be”), Verin calls the Mirror Worlds the “Worlds that Might Be”, and notes they indicate “[d]ifferent lives for the different ways things might have happened.” In the same chapter, while using the Portal Stones, Rand experiences thousands of different lives, each ending with his death and a voice whispering, “I have won again, Lews Therin.”

All of these passages indicate that the Worlds of If, the Mirror Worlds, are representations of what might have been and what might be. Each world represents the consequences of different choices having been made, and their degree of “reality” in appearance and life is determined by the likelihood of each different choice.

Conclusion

If we apply the concept of “sum-over-histories” to the Mirror Worlds, we find that the two complement one another nicely. Just as a particle might have a very low probability of existing at a certain point, so a particular Mirror World may have almost no chance of existing. In both cases, there is one path that represents the highest probability of occurrence. In the case of the Mirror Worlds, this path is the real world, the world in which the story takes place. All the other paths are simply “ifs”, with varying degrees of possibility.

Extension-The Ring Ter’angreal

I have another theory regarding the similarity of the three-ring ter’angreal in the White Tower and Rhuidean. I believe these two ter’angreal are related to the Portal Stones, in that they both give access to realities that “might be” or “might have been”. See that theory for more information.