The Formulation of Wave Mechanics

D. H. Delphenich

Abstract The continuum-mechanical formulation of wave mechanics suggests that there is an intermediate stage of theoretical generality between wave mechanics and point mechanics, namely, continuum mechanics. When that argument is applied to the corresponding transition from wave optics to geometrical optics, the corresponding intermediate stage is essentially the geometrical theory of diffraction, i.e., the theory of diffracted geodesics.

J.P. MATHIEU

N. F. Mott, Milton E. Rose

Jeffrey Alan Barrett

Hugh Everett III's pure wave mechanics is a deterministic physical theory with no probabilities. He nevertheless sought to show how his theory might be understood as making the same statistical predictions as the standard collapse formulation of quantum mechanics. We will consider Everett's argument for pure wave mechanics, how it depends on the notion of branch typicality, and the relationship between the predictions of pure wave mechanics and the standard quantum probabilities.

Erwin Schrödinger

Jeffrey Alan Barrett

Given Hugh Everett III's understanding of the proper cognitive status of physical theories, his relative-state formulation of pure wave mechanics arguably qualifies as an empirically acceptable physical theory. The argument turns on the precise nature of the relationship that Everett requires between the empirical substructure of an empirically faithful physical theory and experience. On this view, Everett provides a weak resolution to both the determinate record and the probability problems encountered by pure wave mechanics, and does so in a way that avoids unnecessary metaphysical complications. Taking Everett's goal to be showing the empirical faithfulness of the relative-state formulation agrees well with his characterization of his project as one of seeking a model for observation in the correlation structure described by pure wave mechanics and seeking a measure of typicality over this empirical substructure that covaries with our empirically warranted expectations. 1 Pure Wave Mechanics and Relative States 2 Everett and Frank 3 Everett on the Nature of Physical Theories 4 Conditions for Empirical Faithfulness 5 The Empirical Faithfulness of Pure Wave Mechanics 6 Conclusion