The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics contains a fundamental refuse to visualize quantum processes, so as not to conflict with common sense. The lack of visualization creates a problem in understanding quantum mechanics. We are exploring a new type of motion, which has not been previously considered either in physics or in mathematics. This type of motion makes it possible to correctly describe and visualize the bizarre quantum processes, including quantum jumps, nonlocality, quantum entanglement, wave-particle duality, and so on. We also made some simple figures of these quantum processes using a new type of movement. Visualization of quantum processes will help to better understand quantum mechanics not only for researchers and students but also for lay readers interested in quantum physics.
The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics contains a fundamental refuse to visualize quantum processes, so as not to conflict with common sense. The lack of visualization creates a problem in understanding quantum mechanics. We are exploring a new type of motion, which has not been previously considered either in physics or in mathematics. This type of motion makes it possible to correctly describe and visualize the bizarre quantum processes, including quantum jumps, nonlocality, quantum entanglement, wave-particle duality, and so on. We also made some simple figures of these quantum processes using a new type of movement. Visualization of quantum processes will help to better understand quantum mechanics not only for researchers and students but also for lay readers interested in quantum physics.
We propose a new interpretation of quantum mechanics to address challenges of the Copenhagen Interpretation and to explain observations from certain double-slit experiments. We explore some characteristics of quantum mechanics and analyze a quantum mechanical model which leads us to the assumptions for our new interpretation. We show how quantized waves, like those in Schrodinger’s wave equation, might exist in nature and explain the fundamentals of quantum-scale processes including: the above-mentioned double-slit experiments, wave function collapse, quantum entanglement and quantum tunneling. We classify our interpretation based on commonly used criteria. Finally, we consider some future theoretical points and list some experimental questions. Our new interpretation has the potential to facilitate new theory and experiments leading to a better understanding of fundamental processes in nature and possibly new applications for quantum theory. Page 18 is updated and there is a new suggestion about entanglement on page 20.
Interpreting quantum mechanics is a hard problem basically because it means explaining why and how the mathematics exploited to formulate wave-particle duality are related to observations or reality in classical physics. Consequently, interpretation of quantum mechanics and its formalism should involve proper physical mathematics, physical logic and classical physics, which is not the case from the Copenhagen interpretation. Here, we shall revisit all the postulates of quantum mechanics with proper physics and physical logic and reconstruct them to establish the less-complex interpretation of quantum mechanics with additional new postulates from classical physics. A new quantum mechanical postulate (Postulate 9) is also introduced to understand the meaning of the forbidden gap between discrete energy levels and/or electron orbitals in atoms that is valid for molecules and condensed matter based on quantum mechanics that is technically well-defined and experimentally observable. Here, we tackle all the problems arise from the Copenhagen interpretation systematically by revising and/or extending them with proper classical and quantum physics without violating established experiments and without proposing ideas that violate physical reality.
Abstract Quantum Mechanics (QM) stands alone as a (very) successful physical theory, but the meaning of its variables and the status of many quantities in the mathematical formalism is obscure. This unique situation prompted the need for attribution of a physical meaning to the latter, a procedure known as interpretation. On the other hand, the study of QM is usually presented, even to future scientists, within the only framework developed by Bohr and the Copenhagen researchers, known as the Copenhagen interpretation. As a contribution to the understanding and teaching of Quantum Mechanics, aimed to a broader and deeper appreciation of its fundamentals, including contemplating alternatives and updated interpretations for physicists and philosophers interested in the study of exact sciences (through Ontology, Epistemology, Logic or the Theory of Knowledge), we present a set of Conceptual Diagrams elaborated and designed to expose and facilitate the visualization of elements intervening in any interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and apply them to several well‐developed cases of the latter.
Quantum mechanics allows a remarkably accurate description of nature and powerful predictive capabilities. The analyses of quantum systems and their interpretation lead to many surprises, for example, the ability to detect the characteristics of an object without ever touching it in any way, via "interaction-free measurement," or the teleportation of an atomic state over large distances. The results can become downright bizarre. Quantum mechanics is a subtle subject that usually involves complicated mathematics -- calculus, partial differential equations, etc., for complete understanding. Most texts for general audiences avoid all mathematics. The result is that the reader misses almost all deep understanding of the subject, much of which can be probed with just high-school level algebra and trigonometry. Thus, readers with that level of mathematics can learn so much more about this fundamental science. The book starts with a discussion of the basic physics of waves (an appendix reviews some necessary classical physics concepts) and then introduces the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, including the wave function, superposition, entanglement, Bell's theorem, etc., and applications to Bose--Einstein condensation, quantum computing, and much more. The interpretation of the mathematics of quantum mechanics into a world view has been the subject of much controversy. The result is a variety of conflicting interpretations, from the famous Copenhagen view of Bohr to the multiple universes of Everett. We discuss these interpretations in the chapter "What is a wave function?" and include some very recent advances, for example, quantum Bayesianism, and measurements of the reality of the wave function.
Quantum nonlocality is discussed as an aspect of the quantum formalism that is seriously in need of interpretation.The Transactional Interpretation of quantum mechanics, which describes quantum processes as transactional "handshakes" between retarded ψ waves and advanced ψ * waves, is discussed.Examples of the use of the Transactional Interpretation in resolving quantum paradoxes and in understanding the counter-intuitive aspects of the formalism, particularly quantum nonlocality, are provided. What is an Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?Interpretations of quantum mechanics provide accounts of the meaning of the quantum formalism, guidance as to how to use the formalism to connect with nature and to make predictions on the outcome of experiments, and understanding of the counterintuitive aspects of the formalism.The first interpretation of quantum mechanics was the Copenhagen Interpretation, developed by Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr in the late 1920s.(See reference [1] for a complete description of and references for the Copenhagen Interpretation.)It quickly became the orthodox view of the meaning of the quantum formalism, and it is currently used in most quantum mechanics textbooks.However, its ambiguities have generated a large number of interpretational paradoxes associated with relativity conflicts, wave-particle duality, observer-dependent behavior, wave function collapse, and quantum nonlocality.These problems generated by the Copenhagen Interpretation have led to a plethora of alternative "interpretations", many of which are outlined in this book.The reader is cautioned, however, to examine each of these interpretations carefully to determine if it really qualifies for the status of a full interpretation, in that it deals with
The problems of modern physics are man made.The Copenhagen version of quantum mechanics is formulated in a vague prosaic way, inconsistencies and paradoxes are the price.New interpretations try to solve the problem, however a reformulation rather than an interpretation is needed.In this manuscript I will point out, where the Copenhagen formulation of quantum mechanics is flawed and how one can make sense out of it.Then I will show, that it is possible to give a precise formulation of quantum mechanics without losing its compelling ability in describing experiments.