Interpreting the Quantum World

Kaj Börge Hansen

Micah Secrest

abstract: This thesis attempts to explain Everettian quantum mechanics from the ground up, such that those with little to no experience in quantum physics can understand it. First, we introduce the history of quantum theory, and some concepts that make up the framework of quantum physics. Through these concepts, we reveal why interpretations are necessary to map the quantum world onto our classical world. We then introduce the Copenhagen interpretation, and how many-worlds differs from it. From there, we dive into the concepts of entanglement and decoherence, explaining how worlds branch in an Everettian universe, and how an Everettian universe can appear as our classical observed world. From there, we attempt to answer common questions about many-worlds and discuss whether there are philosophical ramifications to believing such a theory. Finally, we look at whether the many-worlds interpretation can be proven, and why one might choose to believe it. (abstract)

Patrick Bittner

This paper develops a structural critique of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics (MWT). Using the ontological framework of Structure Theory, it demonstrates that branches, as posited by MWT, cannot exist. Four independent arguments are developed: a quantum superposition is one structural state, not a plurality of worlds; branching requires a transformation event that MWT's unitary dynamics cannot provide; quantum entanglement proves that the subsystems MWT treats as independent worlds share constitutive relations that preclude structural independence; and global unitarity is incompatible with the structural derivation of temporal order. The strongest existing defenses of MWT, including Wallace's emergence account and the parsimony argument, are examined and shown to fail on structural grounds. The paper concludes that branches are not merely unobservable. They are impossible.

Favio Cala Vitery, Édgar Eslava

Edward M. MacKinnon

Dipankar Home, M. A. B. Whitaker

The quantum Zeno paradox is examined within the many-worlds and relative states interpretations of quantum mechanics. In the many-worlds interpretation the effect is predicted to persist. The possibility of recombining worlds is not expected to be relevant. In the simplest form of relative states interpretation the effect may be avoided but this form of interpretation experiences difficulties in coping with conventional problems of quantum theory. The more complex version of the relative states interpretation, which takes account of the correlations of system with apparatus, predicts the occurrence of the paradox.