To E.T.Jaynes, the great realist, in memoriam
QUANTUM QUESTIONS
Is the randomness in quantum events
fundamental or is it caused by an ordinary sensitive dependence on initial
conditions? Is
the argument of the linearity of Schroedinger equation sufficient to discard
this possibility? Interaction of radiation with matter namely energy exchange
by emission or absorption of photons (that is always the case when there is a
measurement) is the domain of quantumelectrodynamics where one has to consider
the energy of the electromagnetic field of the charged particle in the
hamiltonian operator. Even if the external electromagnetic field is static, the
wave function describing the particle alone cannot live in a superposition of
energy eigenstates infinitely long because of dissipation of energy by
radiation reaction contrary to the description of ordinary Schrodinger
equation. This was demonstrated in the simplest form by Fermi in a 1927 paper.
It can be shown that such a mechanism can lead to sensitive dependence on
initial conditions regarding time development of the wave function which we
experience as a randomness in quantum events.
A
more technical version of the ideas expressed here can be found in http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/quant-ph/0307157v3
These and
the following other questions are discussed in the book:
*
Is the wave function in quantum mechanics a physically real field or
"merely" a probability amplitude namely a mathematical tool to
predict the probability of a particular outcome in a measurement ? Arguments pro
and contra.
* Is there any evidence supporting the myth about the role of a
conscious observer in a quantum measurement?
* Why is
the use of the historically established term of "wave function
collapse" instead of the term "transition" misleading?
* Why is the use of the term "measurement" in the axioms
of the theory a conceptual mistake even if it is referring to an
objective(observer independent) event, namely to the interaction between the
system to be measured and between the measurement apparatus?
* How did
an improper use of words turn a purely scientific problem to a philosophical
pseudo-problem?
* How appropriate is the term "measurement problem"? Does
the indeterministic transition occur only during the interaction with a
measuring device namely a macroscopic device with large number of degrees of
freedom or does it occur also in purely microscopic events as in spontaneous
emission or radioactive decay etc.?
*Bohm's
pilotwave theory, many world interpretation, environment induced decoherence, consistent
histories approach... Which problems are solved, which problems remain unsolved
and which problems are created by these alternative interpretations?
* Is there a solution to the problem of nonlocality in measurement
type transitions or is it a fact to live with? Is there a contradiction with
the theory of special relativity?
Keywords:
quantum measurement interpretation copenhagen Bohm Everett many worlds
consistent histories decoherence entanglement EPR paradox consistent histories
nonlocality randomness indeterminism wave function collapse probability wave
particle duality
links
to:
http://www.aprmedya.com (calligraphy, marbling, painting by Peyami Gurel)
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