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arXiv:1906.10172

on some (so-called) paradoxes of quantum physics

Daniel Parrochia

Published Jun 13, 2019• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of which appears as the most famous paradoxes of quantum theory (Schrodinger cat, EPR argument and Aspect experiments, delayed choice experiments and retrocausality problems). Through these experiments, physics raises so fundamental questions that it borders, at the limit, with metaphysics. The present article supports the idea that the difficulties encountered, so puzzling they are, manifest only a transitional state of the evolution of physics, that can be expected to be outdated one day. In the meantime, caution is necessary to avoid the excesses that could lead to metaphysical considerations a little too premature.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1906.10172

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This article is devoted to the study of which appears as the most famous paradoxes of quantum theory (Schrodinger cat, EPR argument and Aspect experiments, delayed choice experiments and retrocausality problems). Through these experiments, physics raises so fundamental questions that it borders, at the limit, with metaphysics. The present article supports the idea that the difficulties encountered, so puzzling they are, manifest only a transitional state of the evolution of physics, that can be expected to be outdated one day. In the meantime, caution is necessary to avoid the excesses that could lead to metaphysical considerations a little too premature.
Quantum theory confronts us with bizarre paradoxes which upset the logical edifice of classical physics. At the sub-atomic level, one particle seems to know what the others are doing (so-called 'non-locality'), and according to Heisenberg's 'uncertainty principle', there is a limit on how accurately nature can be observed. And yet the theory is amazingly accurate and widely applied, explaining all of chemistry and most of physics. This book takes us on a step-by-step tour with the key figures, including Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg and Schrodinger. Each contributed at least one crucial concept to the theory. The puzzle of the wave-particle duality is here, along with descriptions of the two questions raised gainst Bohr's 'Copenhagen Interpretation' - the famous 'dead and alive cat' and the EPR paradox. Both remain unresolved at the beginning of the 21st century.
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The most discussed of ``live'' metaphors in physical sciences is that of the Schrödinger cat. Introduced in the early, but mature days of the new quantum theory, in 1935, the parable of the cat has provoked and enlivened debates on the meaning of the quantum theory, on the ontology of the quantum wavefunction, on the puzzle of the collapse of the wavefunction, on the meaning of quantum measurement, and on the boundary between the quantum world and the classical world. In this article, I will discuss these issues of the quantum theory focussing on various aspects of the metaphor of the Schrödinger cat.
The cat paradox a little about paradoxes more about Schrodinger's cat what is probability? concrete objects classes of concrete objects abstract objects the key principle Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen's (EPR's) paradox angular momentum and spin Bohm's paradox polarization of photons aspect's experiment a short stop for reflections properties of concrete human beings mutual understanding an individual and society social sciences, utopias and doctrines how reliable is a poll? probabilities revisited states and beyond what is quantum physics? the Schrodinger equation - its origin and meaning what is a particle? Is it a corpuscle, a wave, or both? the double-slit Gedankenexperiment - what does it prove? Wheeler's delayed choice experiment a brief discussion of the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is the world real? the mystery of the photon.
Despite the spectacular success of quantum mechanics (QM) over the last 80 years in explaining phenomena observed at the atomic and subatomic level, the conceptual status of the theory is still a topic of lively controversy. Most of the discussion centers around two famous paradoxes (or, as some would have it, pseudoparadoxes) associated, respectively, with the names of Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) and with Schrodinger's cat. In this Viewpoint, I will concentrate on the paradox of Schrodinger's cat or, as it is often known (to my mind somewhat misleadingly), the quantum measurement paradox.