dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaAn extension of "Popper's experiment" can test interpretations of quantum mechanics
| Authors | R. Plaga |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0010030 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0010030 |
| Journal | Found.Phys.Lett. 13,461 (2000) |
Abstract
Karl Popper proposed a way to test whether a proposed relation of a quantum-mechanical state to perceived reality in the Copenhagen interpretation (CI) of quantum mechanics - namely that the state of a particle is merely an expression of ``what is known'' about the system - is in agreement with all experimental facts. A conceptual flaw in Popper's proposal is identified and an improved version of his experiment (called ``Extension step 1'') - which fully serves its original purpose - is suggested. The main purpose of this paper is to suggest to perform this experiment. The results of this experiment predicted under the alternative assumptions that the CI - together with the above connection of the state function with reality - or the ``many-worlds'' interpretation (MWI) is correct are shown to be identical. Only after a further modification (called ``Extension step 2'') - the use of an ion isolated from the macroscopic environment as particle detector - the predictions using the respective interpretations become qualitatively different.
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"abstract": "Karl Popper proposed a way to test whether a proposed relation of a\nquantum-mechanical state to perceived reality in the Copenhagen interpretation\n(CI) of quantum mechanics - namely that the state of a particle is merely an\nexpression of ``what is known\u0027\u0027 about the system - is in agreement with all\nexperimental facts. A conceptual flaw in Popper\u0027s proposal is identified and an\nimproved version of his experiment (called ``Extension step 1\u0027\u0027) - which fully\nserves its original purpose - is suggested. The main purpose of this paper is\nto suggest to perform this experiment. The results of this experiment predicted\nunder the alternative assumptions that the CI - together with the above\nconnection of the state function with reality - or the ``many-worlds\u0027\u0027\ninterpretation (MWI) is correct are shown to be identical. Only after a further\nmodification (called ``Extension step 2\u0027\u0027) - the use of an ion isolated from\nthe macroscopic environment as particle detector - the predictions using the\nrespective interpretations become qualitatively different.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0010030",
"authors": [
"R. Plaga"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "Found.Phys.Lett. 13,461 (2000)",
"title": "An extension of \"Popper\u0027s experiment\" can test interpretations of quantum mechanics",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0010030"
},
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