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A subtle point about Bohr

Allen C. Dotson

Jon Cartwright's interesting and informative article on quantum philosophy ("The life of psi", May pp26–31) mischaracterizes Niels Bohr's stance as anti-realist by suggesting (in the illustration on p29) that Bohr believed that "quantum theory [does not] describe an objective reality, independent of the observer".

Physics WorldJul 1, 20130 citations

Reality and the Role of the Wave Function in Quantum Theory

Detlef Dürr, Sheldon Goldstein, Nino Zanghı̀

Springer eBooksNov 6, 201254 citations

NSA keys into quantum computing

Jon Cartwright

Leaked documents suggest that the US National Security Agency is developing quantum computers to crack cryptography codes, but what progress has the agency really made? Jon Cartwright investigates.

Physics WorldFeb 1, 20145 citations

The Heart of Quantum Theory

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksApr 1, 20200 citations

Methodological requirements and some basic issues of quantum mechanics

Paolo Rocchi, Orlando Panella

Waves and particles are alternative modes of being for the elements of atomic dimensions. This feature appears to be evident at the experimental level but remains a conundrum at the theoretical level. The squared wavefunction |Ψ|2 yields the probability of finding a particle at a particular position and time, namely, the wave is conceived as a derivation or a physical condition of the particle and not a condition of the quantum. What the wavefunction represents, whether it really exists, whether it is a purely formal representation and if the observer influences the wavefunction are the major arguments of quantum mechanics (QM). The double nature of electrons, photons, and so on has been clearly recognized, and the two natures should be established by precise formulations. This work adheres totally to this methodological criterion and puts forward two formal definitions. The measurement process and wave collapse problems are also discussed. Finally, we verify the theoretical conclusions using the double slit experiment and the photoelectric effect. Probability plays a crucial role in the quantum literature, and the definitions of the wave and the particle should be illustrated by exploiting the probability theory; however, the various probability theories are not univocal and propose irreconcilable views. Therefore, in a preliminary stage, we unify the ontological and epistemic interpretations of probability using four theorems that have been already published. In summary, this work is developed on the basis of two methodological criteria, which seek to improve the probability theory and fix the definitional formulas of QM.Waves and particles are alternative modes of being for the elements of atomic dimensions. This feature appears to be evident at the experimental level but remains a conundrum at the theoretical level. The squared wavefunction |Ψ|2 yields the probability of finding a particle at a particular position and time, namely, the wave is conceived as a derivation or a physical condition of the particle and not a condition of the quantum. What the wavefunction represents, whether it really exists, whether it is a purely formal representation and if the observer influences the wavefunction are the major arguments of quantum mechanics (QM). The double nature of electrons, photons, and so on has been clearly recognized, and the two natures should be established by precise formulations. This work adheres totally to this methodological criterion and puts forward two formal definitions. The measurement process and wave collapse problems are also discussed. Finally, we verify the theoretical conclusions using the double slit experiment and the photoelectric effect. Probability plays a crucial role in the quantum literature, and the definitions of the wave and the particle should be illustrated by exploiting the probability theory; however, the various probability theories are not univocal and propose irreconcilable views. Therefore, in a preliminary stage, we unify the ontological and epistemic interpretations of probability using four theorems that have been already published. In summary, this work is developed on the basis of two methodological criteria, which seek to improve the probability theory and fix the definitional formulas of QM.

Physics EssaysMar 18, 20221 citation

The World in the Wave Function: A Metaphysics for Quantum Physics

Alyssa Ney

Apr 1, 202131 citations

The life of psi

Abstract

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The life of psi

Abstract

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