scholarly journals FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS: DECOHERENCE AND INTERPRETATION

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (05) ◽  
pp. 861-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLIMPIA LOMBARDI ◽  
JUAN SEBASTIAN ARDENGHI ◽  
SEBASTIAN FORTIN ◽  
MARTIN NARVAJA
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
General Framework ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Decoherence ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
The Third ◽  
Closed Systems

In this paper, we review Castagnino's contributions to the foundations of quantum mechanics. First, we recall his work on quantum decoherence in closed systems, and the proposal of a general framework for decoherence from which the phenomenon acquires a conceptually clear meaning. Then, we introduce his contribution to the hard field of the interpretation of quantum mechanics: the modal-Hamiltonian interpretation solves many of the interpretive problems of the theory, and manifests its physical relevance in its application to many traditional models of the practice of physics. In the third part of this work we describe the ontological picture of the quantum world that emerges from the modal-Hamiltonian interpretation, stressing the philosophical step toward a deep understanding of the reference of the theory.

Science and exile: David Bohm, the cold war, and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLIVAL FREIRE
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Cold War ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Causal Interpretation ◽  
David Bohm ◽  
New Interpretation ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
American Physicist

ABSTRACT In the early 1950s the American physicist David Bohm (1917-1992) produced a new interpretation of quantum mechanics and had to flee from McCarthyism. Rejected at Princeton, he moved to Sãão Paulo. This article focuses on the reception of his early papers on the causal interpretation, his Brazilian exile, and the culture of physics surrounding the foundations of quantum mechanics. It weighs the strength of the Copenhagen interpretation, discusses the presentation of the foundations of quantum mechanics in the training of physicists, describes the results Bohm and his collaborators achieved. It also compares the reception of Bohm's ideas with that of Hugh Everett's interpretation. The cultural context of physics had a more significant influence on the reception of Bohm's ideas than the McCarthyist climate.

CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS: THE ROLE OF EVIDENCE THEORY, QUANTUM SETS, AND MODAL LOGIC

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 29-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
GERMANO RESCONI ◽  
GEORGE J. KLIR ◽  
ELIANO PESSA
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Modal Logic ◽  
Set Theory ◽  
Possible Worlds ◽  
Evidence Theory ◽  
Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Many Worlds ◽  
New Interpretation ◽  
Quantum Phenomena

Recognizing that syntactic and semantic structures of classical logic are not sufficient to understand the meaning of quantum phenomena, we propose in this paper a new interpretation of quantum mechanics based on evidence theory. The connection between these two theories is obtained through a new language, quantum set theory, built on a suggestion by J. Bell. Further, we give a modal logic interpretation of quantum mechanics and quantum set theory by using Kripke's semantics of modal logic based on the concept of possible worlds. This is grounded on previous work of a number of researchers (Resconi, Klir, Harmanec) who showed how to represent evidence theory and other uncertainty theories in terms of modal logic. Moreover, we also propose a reformulation of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics in terms of Kripke's semantics. We thus show how three different theories — quantum mechanics, evidence theory, and modal logic — are interrelated. This opens, on one hand, the way to new applications of quantum mechanics within domains different from the traditional ones, and, on the other hand, the possibility of building new generalizations of quantum mechanics itself.

scholarly journals Underdeterminations of Consciousness in Quantum Mechanics

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-337
Author(s):  
Raoni Wohnrath Arroyo ◽  
Lauro De Matos Nunes Filho
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
General Result ◽  
General Framework ◽  
Relativistic Quantum ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Human Observer ◽  
The Third ◽  
Quantum Objects ◽  
Rule Out

Metaphysical underdetermination arises when we are not able to decide, by purely theoretical criteria, between competing interpretations of scientific theories with different metaphysical commitments. This is the case in which non-relativistic quantum mechanics (QM) founds itself in. Among several available interpretations, there is the interpretation which states that the interaction with the conscious mind of a human observer causes a change in the dynamics of quantum objects undergoing from indefinite to definite states. This is, in a nutshell, the received view of the consciousness causes the collapse hypothesis (CCCH), which is the basis for a set of interpretations known as subjectivistic interpretations of QM. Here we propose a further distinction between three levels of metaphysical underdetermination within the discussion related to the interpretations of QM: the first level, described above, concerns the general framework of interpretations of QM (where CCCH is a option among several others, and which is not addressed here); the second one emerges within a particular set of interpretations (namely, CCCH), and the third one from two possible approaches to a particular branch of this set of interpretations. We suggest breaking the last two using metaphysical arguments. As a general result, we have been able to rule out the dualist approach of CCCH (though we cannot rule it out empirically) and to realize that the only viable phenomenological approach to CCCH is the eidetic one.

On the Probabilistic Nature of Observable Phenomena

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Complete Theory ◽  
Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Multiple Realities ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Complete Theories ◽  
Probabilistic Nature

This paper proposes a Gadenkan experiment named “Observer’s Dilemma”, to investigate the probabilistic nature of observable phenomena. It has been reasoned that probabilistic nature in, otherwise uniquely deterministic phenomena can be introduced due to lack of information of underlying governing laws. Through theoretical consequences of the experiment, concepts of ‘Absolute Complete’ and ‘Observably Complete” theories have been introduced. Furthermore, nature of reality being ‘absolute’ and ‘observable’ have been discussed along with the possibility of multiple realities being true for observer. In addition, certain aspects of quantum mechanics have been interpreted. It has been argued that quantum mechanics is an ‘observably complete’ theory and its nature is to give probabilistic predictions. Lastly, it has been argued that “Everettian - Many world” interpretation of quantum mechanics is very real and true in the framework of ‘observable nature of reality’, for humans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document