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Quantum Interpretation of the Proton Anomalous Magnetic Moment

Michaele Suisse, P. Cameron

Published Feb 1, 2017• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

A century’s proliferation of Quantum Interpretations has been driven by an incomplete understanding of the measurement problem, by an incomplete understanding of the unobservable wavefunction and its unobservable interactions. Yet it remains that the observer effect - observing a phenomenon necessarily changes that phenomenon - is at the historical foundation of quantum mechanics. The semantic confusion, that wavefunction interactions are unobservable yet the observer effect is irrefutable, can be resolved by considering the difference between simple passive measurement and active transfer function measurement. In the first, one registers whatever lump of energy lands upon a sensor, and there is no observer effect. In the second, one excites the system of interest and measures the response, and there is an observer effect. Magnetic moment measurements are transfer function measurements. To measure an amplitude one must align the spin, applying a magnetic field to separate the energy eigenstates, and excite the system to measure their difference. A paper presented to Spin 2016 suggests that the measured anomaly is not an intrinsic property of the fermionic proton, but rather an observer effect. In our presentation to Spin 2018 we propose to extend the Spin 2016 interpretation to the neutron anomalous moment.

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Geometric Clifford Algebra and Quantum Interpretation of the Proton's Anomalous Magnetic Moment (poster)

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The role of the anomalous moment in the geometric algebra of proton topological mass generation suggests that the anomaly is not an intrinsic property of the free space proton, but rather a topological effect of applying the electromagnetic bias field required to define the eigenstates probed by the magnetic moment measurement. Quantum interpretations strive to explain emergence of the world we observe from formal quantum theory. This variant on the canonical measurement problem is examined in the larger context of quantum interpretations. A more detailed presentation of this content may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyM4cZgSprI

•Sep 1, 2016•0 citations

A simple, practical experiment to investigate atomic wavefunction reduction within a Stern–Gerlach magnet

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Abstract For nearly one hundred years most quantum-mechanics texts have depicted a continuous, spin-direction superposition of the wavefunction of the silver atom traversing a Stern–Gerlach (S–G) magnet. But there are sound scientific arguments which deny that understanding. Schrodinger’s equation for that continuous wavefunction development cannot describe the transfer of energy from the magnetic field to that atom. Modern micro-fabrication techniques now make it possible to implement a simple, accessible experiment testing whether a spin superposition does continue in the magnet. Because the S–G experiment is the prototype for quantum measurement, that observation is crucial to implementing a realistic quantum theory of measurement.

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The Anomalous Magnetic Moment: Classical Calculations

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Critics of the Zitterbewegung model often ask what predictions come out of the model. The answer to this question is quite simple: in order to gain credibility, the model would need to explain the anomalous magnetic moment as measured in experiments. If it can do this, then it should probably be recognized as a valid and alternative interpretation of quantum mechanics. This paper explores the geometry of the model in very much depth and, as such, lays the foundations for such explanation.

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Physical Interaction-Process driven Investigation of Quantum Mechanics

Michael Ambroselli

Quantum Mechanics (QM) represents the currently best mathematical theory and computational tool available to quantitatively model the outcomes of measurements in the microscopic world. However, the various interpretations of the theory, including the currently dominant Copenhagen Interpretation, remain actively debated and contested in mainstream scientific journals. This puts us in the curious position of having a theory which evidently maps a significant portion of physical reality, but we still do not fully understand the relationship between its mathematical constituents and physical reality. This thesis develops a more intuitive understanding of QM based on the physical interaction processes occurring within our detectors. Using a semi- classical point of view, I first present a process-based derivation of the black-body spectrum, the mathematically accurate description of which, as first accomplished by Planck, led to the development of modern QM. I further demonstrate that ignoring interpretations like the Copenhagen Interpretation and focusing on measurable light-matter interaction processes provides an alternative productive way forward. I focus specifically on superposition effects created by multiple electro- magnetic waves simultaneously stimulating appropriate detectors, by mapping the interaction processes that result in the reported data. As a result I present a simple model of the detector signal that incorporates some of the important physical processes which do date have suffered from a lack of attention. One key observation of this discussion corresponds to the fact that in the linear domain wave amplitudes by themselves do not interact to generate observable data - the response to the joint amplitude stimulation of a detector and the ensuing energy absorption on the other hand do represent observables. Much of the confusion as well as many of QM’s paradoxes and contentious issues inherent in various interpretations of the theory resolve automatically when we remain focused on the interaction processes that give rise to the measurable superposition effect, rather than the unobservable superposition principle that the standard interpretations struggle to give meaning to. Demanding, as I do in this thesis, a close correspondence between our mathematical symbols and physical quantities, as well as between mathematical operations and physical processes demonstrates that QM maps more of physical reality than what the Copenhagen Interpretation allows us to extract from the QM formalism.

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Quantum Mechanics

Alexander R. Pruss

Since all experiments are subjected to the laws of quantum mechanics, the invalidity of the law of causality is definitively proved by quantum mechanics. (Heisenberg, 1927, p. 197, trans. in Stern, 1969, p. 132) THE PROBLEM OF INDETERMINISM If quantum mechanics is correct, on whatever interpretation, there are experimental setups such that no amount of observational knowledge of the initial system could possibly predict the outcome. An electron goes through a magnetic field in the Stern-Gerlach experiment in a superposed spin state | up > + | down >. It will take an upward or downward path through the magnetic field, and if quantum mechanics is correct, no observation of its physical configuration prior to the performance of this kind of experiment can possibly reveal which it will be. The standard indeterministic interpretation of quantum mechanics has it that not only can no observation of the prior physical properties of the system, including of the electron, allow us to predict the outcome of the experiment, but that the system lacks any physical properties, observable or not, such that were they known ahead of time, we would know what the outcome is. In other words, on this interpretation, two quantum mechanical systems that start with exactly the same intrinsic properties can behave in different ways. This is indeterminism. It is seen as challenging the PSR for exactly the reason libertarian free will is, but more deeply because the defender of libertarian free will can allow for indeterministic explanations involving the reasons for one action rather than another.

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A century’s proliferation of Quantum Interpretations has been driven by an incomplete understanding of the measurement problem, by an incomplete understanding of the unobservable wavefunction and its unobservable interactions. Yet it remains that the observer effect - observing a phenomenon necessarily changes that phenomenon - is at the historical foundation of quantum mechanics. The semantic confusion, that wavefunction interactions are unobservable yet the observer effect is irrefutable, can be resolved by considering the difference between simple passive measurement and active transfer function measurement. In the first, one registers whatever lump of energy lands upon a sensor, and there is no observer effect. In the second, one excites the system of interest and measures the response, and there is an observer effect. Magnetic moment measurements are transfer function measurements. To measure an amplitude one must align the spin, applying a magnetic field to separate the energy eigenstates, and excite the system to measure their difference. A paper presented to Spin 2016 suggests that the measured anomaly is not an intrinsic property of the fermionic proton, but rather an observer effect. In our presentation to Spin 2018 we propose to extend the Spin 2016 interpretation to the neutron anomalous moment.
The role of the anomalous moment in the geometric algebra of proton topological mass generation suggests that the anomaly is not an intrinsic property of the free space proton, but rather a topological effect of applying the electromagnetic bias field required to define the eigenstates probed by the magnetic moment measurement. Quantum interpretations strive to explain emergence of the world we observe from formal quantum theory. This variant on the canonical measurement problem is examined in the larger context of quantum interpretations. A more detailed presentation of this content may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyM4cZgSprI
Abstract For nearly one hundred years most quantum-mechanics texts have depicted a continuous, spin-direction superposition of the wavefunction of the silver atom traversing a Stern–Gerlach (S–G) magnet. But there are sound scientific arguments which deny that understanding. Schrodinger’s equation for that continuous wavefunction development cannot describe the transfer of energy from the magnetic field to that atom. Modern micro-fabrication techniques now make it possible to implement a simple, accessible experiment testing whether a spin superposition does continue in the magnet. Because the S–G experiment is the prototype for quantum measurement, that observation is crucial to implementing a realistic quantum theory of measurement.
Quantum Mechanics (QM) represents the currently best mathematical theory and computational tool available to quantitatively model the outcomes of measurements in the microscopic world. However, the various interpretations of the theory, including the currently dominant Copenhagen Interpretation, remain actively debated and contested in mainstream scientific journals. This puts us in the curious position of having a theory which evidently maps a significant portion of physical reality, but we still do not fully understand the relationship between its mathematical constituents and physical reality. This thesis develops a more intuitive understanding of QM based on the physical interaction processes occurring within our detectors. Using a semi- classical point of view, I first present a process-based derivation of the black-body spectrum, the mathematically accurate description of which, as first accomplished by Planck, led to the development of modern QM. I further demonstrate that ignoring interpretations like the Copenhagen Interpretation and focusing on measurable light-matter interaction processes provides an alternative productive way forward. I focus specifically on superposition effects created by multiple electro- magnetic waves simultaneously stimulating appropriate detectors, by mapping the interaction processes that result in the reported data. As a result I present a simple model of the detector signal that incorporates some of the important physical processes which do date have suffered from a lack of attention. One key observation of this discussion corresponds to the fact that in the linear domain wave amplitudes by themselves do not interact to generate observable data - the response to the joint amplitude stimulation of a detector and the ensuing energy absorption on the other hand do represent observables. Much of the confusion as well as many of QM’s paradoxes and contentious issues inherent in various interpretations of the theory resolve automatically when we remain focused on the interaction processes that give rise to the measurable superposition effect, rather than the unobservable superposition principle that the standard interpretations struggle to give meaning to. Demanding, as I do in this thesis, a close correspondence between our mathematical symbols and physical quantities, as well as between mathematical operations and physical processes demonstrates that QM maps more of physical reality than what the Copenhagen Interpretation allows us to extract from the QM formalism.
Since all experiments are subjected to the laws of quantum mechanics, the invalidity of the law of causality is definitively proved by quantum mechanics. (Heisenberg, 1927, p. 197, trans. in Stern, 1969, p. 132) THE PROBLEM OF INDETERMINISM If quantum mechanics is correct, on whatever interpretation, there are experimental setups such that no amount of observational knowledge of the initial system could possibly predict the outcome. An electron goes through a magnetic field in the Stern-Gerlach experiment in a superposed spin state | up > + | down >. It will take an upward or downward path through the magnetic field, and if quantum mechanics is correct, no observation of its physical configuration prior to the performance of this kind of experiment can possibly reveal which it will be. The standard indeterministic interpretation of quantum mechanics has it that not only can no observation of the prior physical properties of the system, including of the electron, allow us to predict the outcome of the experiment, but that the system lacks any physical properties, observable or not, such that were they known ahead of time, we would know what the outcome is. In other words, on this interpretation, two quantum mechanical systems that start with exactly the same intrinsic properties can behave in different ways. This is indeterminism. It is seen as challenging the PSR for exactly the reason libertarian free will is, but more deeply because the defender of libertarian free will can allow for indeterministic explanations involving the reasons for one action rather than another.