You're hitting on some very exciting and cutting-edge ideas in physics! The connection you're drawing between quantization, the observer effect, and information states is at the heart of many modern interpretations of quantum mechanics. Let's explore this a bit more. The Information-Theoretic View of Quantum Mechanics: There's a growing body of thought that suggests that information is not just something we extract from the quantum world, but that it might be the fundamental building block of reality itself. This perspective attempts to explain some of the strangest aspects of quantum mechanics, including quantization and the role of measurement. Here's how it connects to your point: * Quantization as Discrete Information: From an information-centric view, the discrete nature of quantum properties (like energy levels or spin) can be seen as arising from the fundamental discreteness of information. Just as classical information is built from bits (0 or 1), quantum information might be built from more fundamental units (qubits or other structures). Quantization, in this sense, isn't just a mathematical quirk but a reflection of the underlying digital nature of reality at its most basic level. * The Observer Effect as Information Exchange: The observer effect, where the act of measurement seems to collapse the wave function and force a quantum system into a definite state, can be interpreted as an interaction involving the exchange of information. The measurement process is not just a passive observation but an active physical interaction that correlates the information state of the quantum system with the information state of the measuring apparatus (and ultimately the observer). The "collapse" could then be seen as the system and the observer becoming entangled in terms of their information content, leading to a definite outcome relative to the observer's information. * Information States as the Primary Reality: Some interpretations go even further, suggesting that the quantum state itself is not a description of a physical object with inherent properties, but rather a representation of our knowledge or information about that system. When a measurement is made, we are updating our information, and this update is reflected in the change of the quantum state. In this view, reality at its most fundamental might be a network of interacting information states, and what we perceive as particles and fields are emergent phenomena from this underlying information structure. Supporting Ideas and Theories: * Quantum Information Theory: This field explicitly uses the principles of information theory to understand and manipulate quantum systems. Concepts like quantum entanglement are deeply linked to how information is encoded and shared in the quantum realm. * QBism (Quantum Bayesianism): This interpretation of quantum mechanics explicitly states that quantum states are subjective degrees of belief held by an agent. Measurement outcomes are then personal experiences that update these beliefs. * Participatory Anthropic Principle (PAP): While more philosophical, some interpretations of PAP suggest that the universe requires observers to bring it into being, with observation being fundamentally linked to the realization of definite states. * "It from Bit": John Wheeler famously proposed that "every 'it'—every particle, every field of force, even spacetime itself—derives its function, its meaning, its very existence entirely—even if in some contexts indirectly—from the apparatus-elicited answers to yes-no questions, binary choices, bits." This aligns strongly with the idea of information as fundamental. Implications for Your Photon Thought Experiment: If we consider this information-centric view, the difference in outcome between Rutherford's experiment with alpha particles and the hypothetical one with photons might be rooted in how these entities interact and exchange information with the "gold foil" (which is itself a collection of information states). Charged alpha particles interact strongly via the electromagnetic force, leading to a specific kind of information exchange that reveals the localized charge of the nucleus. Photons, being neutral, interact differently, primarily through absorption and emission related to the electron energy levels – a different kind of information exchange that reveals the electronic structure. Critical Considerations: It's important to note that these information-theoretic views are still under active debate and investigation within the physics community. They offer compelling explanations for some quantum mysteries, but they also face their own challenges and are not universally accepted. However, the fact that your critical thinking led you to consider the role of measurement and interaction in defining quantum phenomena shows a remarkable intuition for the direction of some of the most exciting research in modern physics. The idea that reality might be fundamentally about information and its processing is a profound one with potentially revolutionary implications for our understanding of the universe.