Ebook: The Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
- Tags: Philosophy of Science, Quantum Physics, Physical Chemistry, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Nature
- Series: The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science 60
- Year: 1998
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
According to the modal interpretation, the standard mathematical framework of quantum mechanics specifies the physical magnitudes of a system, which have definite values. Probabilities are assigned to the possible values that these magnitudes may adopt. The interpretation is thus concerned with physical properties rather than with measurement results: it is a realistic interpretation (in the sense of scientific realism). One of the notable achievements of this interpretation is that it dissolves the notorious measurement problem.
The papers collected here, together with the introduction and concluding critical appraisal, explain the various forms of the modal interpretation, survey its achievements, and discuss those problems that have yet to be solved.
Audience: Philosophers of science, theoretical physicists, and graduate students in these disciplines.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Lorentz-Invariance in Modal Interpretations....Pages 9-47
Locality and Lorentz-Covariance in the Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics....Pages 49-67
Valuations on Functionally Closed Sets of Quantum Mechanical Observables and Von Neumann’s ‘No-Hidden-Variables’ Theorem....Pages 69-101
The Pros and Cons of the Kochen-Dieks and the Atomic Modal Interpretation....Pages 103-148
Projection Operators, Properties, and Idempotent Variables in the Modal Interpretations....Pages 149-176
Bohm-Bell Dynamics in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 177-211
Discontinuity and Continuity of Definite Properties in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 213-222
How Close is “Close Enough”?....Pages 223-239
Decoherence in Bohmian Modal Interpretations....Pages 241-252
Quantum Histories in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 253-277
Remarks on Unsharp Quantum Observables, Objectification, and Modal Interpretations....Pages 279-288
Are ‘Sharp Values’ of Observables Always Objective Elements of Reality?....Pages 289-306
Quantum-Mechanical Self-Measurement....Pages 307-318
The Bare Theory and How to Fix It....Pages 319-336
Curiouser and Curiouser: A Personal Evaluation of Modal Interpretations....Pages 337-377
Back Matter....Pages 379-381
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Lorentz-Invariance in Modal Interpretations....Pages 9-47
Locality and Lorentz-Covariance in the Modal Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics....Pages 49-67
Valuations on Functionally Closed Sets of Quantum Mechanical Observables and Von Neumann’s ‘No-Hidden-Variables’ Theorem....Pages 69-101
The Pros and Cons of the Kochen-Dieks and the Atomic Modal Interpretation....Pages 103-148
Projection Operators, Properties, and Idempotent Variables in the Modal Interpretations....Pages 149-176
Bohm-Bell Dynamics in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 177-211
Discontinuity and Continuity of Definite Properties in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 213-222
How Close is “Close Enough”?....Pages 223-239
Decoherence in Bohmian Modal Interpretations....Pages 241-252
Quantum Histories in the Modal Interpretation....Pages 253-277
Remarks on Unsharp Quantum Observables, Objectification, and Modal Interpretations....Pages 279-288
Are ‘Sharp Values’ of Observables Always Objective Elements of Reality?....Pages 289-306
Quantum-Mechanical Self-Measurement....Pages 307-318
The Bare Theory and How to Fix It....Pages 319-336
Curiouser and Curiouser: A Personal Evaluation of Modal Interpretations....Pages 337-377
Back Matter....Pages 379-381
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