In 2018, a new and systematic solution to the interpretation problem of quantum theory was published (in German language) under the title of "Realistische Quantentheorie". In the present document, a postprint of this publication can be found, together with an English summary. The solution considered here comprises a canonical modelling of quantum reality, a precise formulation of the deterministic and the probabilistic laws, proof of the logical consistency of these laws (thus solving the well-known no-go-problems), unequivocal definition of the quantum state and clarification of its ontological status, solution to the problem of measurement and clarification of the role played by the reduction of the quantum state. Ambiguities of the Copenhagen interpretation are avoided as well as speculative concepts of many worlds theories or the attempt to adhere to outdated particle concepts (Bohmian mechanics). Also avoided are pseudo-philosophical speculations about subjectivism or phenomenalism as expressed in the assertion that the world is "nothing but information". For a more detailed description of this theory see the abstract as well as the summary in the PDF document.
In 2018, a new and systematic solution to the interpretation problem of quantum theory was published (in German language) under the title of "Realistische Quantentheorie". In the present document, a postprint of this publication can be found, together with an English summary. The solution considered here comprises a canonical modelling of quantum reality, a precise formulation of the deterministic and the probabilistic laws, proof of the logical consistency of these laws (thus solving the well-known no-go-problems), unequivocal definition of the quantum state and clarification of its ontological status, solution to the problem of measurement and clarification of the role played by the reduction of the quantum state. Ambiguities of the Copenhagen interpretation are avoided as well as speculative concepts of many worlds theories or the attempt to adhere to outdated particle concepts (Bohmian mechanics). Also avoided are pseudo-philosophical speculations about subjectivism or phenomenalism as expressed in the assertion that the world is "nothing but information". For a more detailed description of this theory see the abstract as well as the summary in the PDF document.
In 2018, a new systematic approach to solving the interpretation problem of quantum theory was published under the title "Realistische Quantentheorie" (in German). In the present document, the main results of this approach are reported (in English), with the necessary mathematical proofs being provided in an appendix. The approach comprises a canonical modeling of quantum reality, a precise formulation of the deterministic and probabilistic laws, proof of logical consistency of these laws (thus solving the well-known no-go problems), unequivocal definition of the quantum state and clarification of its ontological status, solution to the problem of measurement, and clarification of the role played by the reduction of the quantum state. A more detailed description of this solution to the interpretation problem can be found in the summary (pp. 7-9 of this document). Ambiguities of the Copenhagen interpretation are avoided as are speculative concepts of many-worlds theories or the attempt to adhere to outdated particle concepts (Bohmian mechanics). Also avoided are pseudo-philosophical speculations about subjectivism or phenomenalism as expressed in the assertion that the world is "nothing but information". A postprint of the original publication is available in the Zenodo repository (zenodo.7750648) and in the Mathematical Physics Preprint Archive (mp_arc 23-6), see links below under "Related works" / "Is derived from". Remark: The present text mostly corresponds to the "Short Account" published earlier (in German), which is also available in the Zenodo repository (zenodo.8245998, see link below). However, the necessary proofs have been extracted from the original publication and added here in a translated version.
This work presents a historical-epistemological analysis of the foundations of quantum mechanics. From a philosophical point of view, the relationships between quantum mechanics and scientific realism are highlighted, as well as the influence of the neo-positivist philosophy of the first decades of the 20th century. The great significance of measurement in the context of quantum mechanics is underlined, as an essential element in providing a coherent description of reality moving from the microcosm to the macrocosm, as well as the role that the measurement apparatus and the consciousness of the observer assume during the act of measurement, the ontological problem, the problem of the objectification of the wave function and the problem of the definition of discernibility. This is followed by an overview of the most important alternative proposals to the standard interpretation (Copenhagen interpretation), with particular reference to hidden variable theories, and other alternatives to standard quantum mechanics that profoundly modify the vision of reality, such as the Everett’s many-worlds theory, the QBism, the unified holistic approach.
In the well known Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum mechanics, advocated by N. Bohr, the physical objects and the experimental results can be described only in a macroscopic language, leaving any possible microscopic description as unspeakable. This point of view has been deepened by C. Rovelli in the relational interpretation of Quantum mechanics. Most of the alternative interpretations, which try a detailed microscopic description of physical phenomena and of their evolution, have in common the explicit introduction of the wave function as the basic element of the theory. These interpretations require the notion of quantum state as the fundamental concept of the theory, which is the typical unspeakable physical element according to the Copenhagen interpretation. The two basic physical entities are intimately bound together by the integrity of the wave function. These interpretations are usually indicated as realistic. It is well known that the use of the wave function and its time evolution in the description of the physical processes leads unavoidably to some difficulties or so-called paradoxes. The measurement problem is at the center of these difficulties, mainly because it requires the introduction of the reduction process of the wave function, which is not included explicitly within the mathematical formalism of Quantum Mechanics. In this paper we build up and propose a model which goes beyond the standard formalism and which is able to solve the measurement problem and all the other difficulties which, in a way or in another, are related to it.
We present a historical-epistemological analysis of the foundations of quantum mechanics, highlighting the relationships between quantum mechanics and scientific realism, as well as the influence of the neo-positivist philosophy of the first decades of the 20th century. The great significance of the measurement process in the context of quantum mechanics is underlined as an essential element in providing a coherent description of reality, moving from micro to macrocosm, as well as the role that the measurement apparatus and the consciousness of the observer assume during the act of measurement, the related ontological problems, the question of the objectification of the wave function, and that of the definition of discernibility. We consider also an overview of the most important alternative proposals to the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics (Copenhagen interpretation), with particular reference to hidden variable theories and other alternatives to standard quantum mechanics philosophical approach, that are modifying the vision of reality, such as the Everett’s many-worlds theory, the QBism and unified holistic approaches, such as the Primordial Dynamic Space.
The field of interpretation of quantum mechanics emerged in an attempt to solve the measurement problem. This turned on the perception that Niels Bohr avoided addressing the measurement problem by taking an instrumentalist view of quantum mechanics. I argue that this view is mistaken and Bohr's interpretation of quantum mechanics is realist. Moreover, Bohr's interpretation, which is different from textbook quantum mechanics (which is due more to Von Neumann and Paul Dirac), succeeds in solving the measurement problem. While the claim that Bohr dissolves the measurement problem within the limits of the epistemological framework he assumes has been made by a few authors, rarely has the case been made that Bohr's project unambiguously and completely overcomes the measurement problem. I make the strong case that Bohr eliminated the measurement problem altogether. For this, I put forward two new postulates through which to make sense of Bohr's interpretation. The article thus seeks to single out Bohr's interpretation from the various views that go together under the umbrella of orthodox quantum mechanics, and which have been traditionally considered susceptible to the measurement problem. It shows that Bohr's interpretation should be classified along with those like hidden variable theories, collapse models, modal interpretations etc., which offer a solution to the measurement problem and are committed to a realist ontology.
Abstract The book starts with a description of classical mechanics then discusses the quantum phenomena that require us to give up our commonsense classical intuitions. We consider the physical and conceptual arguments that led to the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics and how the standard theory explains quantum phenomena. This includes a discussion of how the theory’s two dynamical laws work with the standard interpretation of states to explain determinate measurement records, quantum statistics, interference effects, entanglement, decoherence, and quantum nonlocality. A careful understanding of how the standard theory works ultimately leads to the quantum measurement problem. We consider how the measurement problem threatens the logical consistency of the standard theory then turn to a discussion of the main proposals for resolving it. This includes collapse formulations of quantum mechanics like Wigner’s extension of the standard theory and the GRW approach and no-collapse formulations like pure wave mechanics, the various many-worlds theories, and Bohmian mechanics. In discussing alternative formulations of quantum mechanics we pay particular attention to the explanatory role played by each theory’s empirical ontology and associated metaphysical commitments and the conceptual trade-offs between theoretical options.