On Explaining the Meaning of the Wave Function

Jean Bricmont

I will review the constraints that the no hidden variable theorems put on the interpretations of quantum mechanics and on the locality of the universe. I will also briefly explain how Bohm's theory gives a clear and objective meaning to the wave function and, at the same time, explains in the simplest possible way the most paradoxical aspects of quantum mechanics.

Jean Bricmont

We try to give a physical meaning to the wave function or quantum state of a system, apart from being a very efficient tool for predicting results of measurements on that system. In other words, we ask what does it mean for a system outside the laboratories to have a wave function? We first explain why two possible, and probably common, answers to that question do not really answer it. Then, we explain how the de Broglie – Bohm theory does give a satisfactory meaning to the quantum state outside the laboratories, while avoiding the problems faced by the other answers.

K. T. Hecht

Tower Chen

The solution (wave function) of Schrodinger’s equation is used to describe the motion of a quantum. Max Born treated the square of the absolute value of the wave function as the probability of a quantum appearing at any given point. With this statistical interpretation of a wave function, the physical meaning of the whole quantum theory becomes clearer and more understandable. The development of wave function is based on the De Broglie’s postulate: there is a matter wave related to an object. If wave functions can be explained with the statistical interpretation, then matter waves could simi-larly be explained with statiscal interpretation. This assump-tion is confirmed by deriving the Heisenburg uncertainty rela-tion through mutilplying the matter wavelength of an object Concepts of Physics, Vol. III (2006) 1 with the light wavelength of measuring medium. This new approach may offer another view to look at the reality of M. Born’s statistical interpretation of the wave function solution of Schrodinger’s equation.