Physics Can Explain Everything

It was four years ago that I first proposed the existence of an exchange particle called the St. Nick’s Boson, but so far the Large Hadron Collider at CERN has failed to reveal it. The so-called Santa Particle would explain one of the mysteries of the universe:

How does Father Christmas manage to deliver presents to every good child in the world in one night?

The theory goes as follows:

If light shines on two slits, a pattern of lines can be seen, where the light waves add up to give bright and dark patches on a screen. But It has also been shown that light consists of quantum objects called photons, as well as behaving like waves.

If the light falling on the two slits is dim enough, photons can be made to pass through the slits one at a time. However the pattern is still visible, meaning that each photon must pass through both slits at once! But if one attempts to observe a photon at any given time, the pattern disappears. In accordance with Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, trying to observe the quantum objects affects their behaviour.

By considering Father Christmas to be a quantum particle, albeit a large one, and presuming the reindeer can propel him at near light speeds, quantum mechanics states that he can pass through every point on the earth at the same time, as long as no-one attempts to observe him!

This is why, in order to receive presents on Christmas Eve, you have to be tucked up in bed asleep.

Moreover, the only evidence of the existence of the St. Nick's Boson is the other particles left in its wake. In this case, crumbs of mince pie and an empty glass.

Have a very merry Christmas one and all.

This is best viewed LARGE.