dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum Theory at the Crossroads: Reconsidering the 1927 Solvay Conference
| Authors | Guido Bacciagaluppi, Antony Valentini |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0609184 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0609184 |
| Journal | G. Bacciagaluppi and A. Valentini, Quantum Theory at the Crossroads: Reconsidering the 1927 Solvay Conference (Cambridge University Press, 2009) |
| License | http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/ |
Abstract
We reconsider the crucial 1927 Solvay conference in the context of current research in the foundations of quantum theory. Contrary to folklore, the interpretation question was not settled at this conference and no consensus was reached; instead, a range of sharply conflicting views were presented and extensively discussed. Today, there is no longer an established or dominant interpretation of quantum theory, so it is important to re-evaluate the historical sources and keep the interpretation debate open. In this spirit, we provide a complete English translation of the original proceedings (lectures and discussions), and give background essays on the three main interpretations presented: de Broglie's pilot-wave theory, Born and Heisenberg's quantum mechanics, and Schroedinger's wave mechanics. We provide an extensive analysis of the lectures and discussions that took place, in the light of current debates about the meaning of quantum theory. The proceedings contain much unexpected material, including extensive discussions of de Broglie's pilot-wave theory (which de Broglie presented for a many-body system), and a "quantum mechanics" apparently lacking in wave function collapse or fundamental time evolution. We hope that the book will contribute to the ongoing revival of research in quantum foundations, as well as stimulate a reconsideration of the historical development of quantum physics. A more detailed description of the book may be found in the Preface. (Copyright by Cambridge University Press (ISBN: 9780521814218).)
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"abstract": "We reconsider the crucial 1927 Solvay conference in the context of current\nresearch in the foundations of quantum theory. Contrary to folklore, the\ninterpretation question was not settled at this conference and no consensus was\nreached; instead, a range of sharply conflicting views were presented and\nextensively discussed. Today, there is no longer an established or dominant\ninterpretation of quantum theory, so it is important to re-evaluate the\nhistorical sources and keep the interpretation debate open. In this spirit, we\nprovide a complete English translation of the original proceedings (lectures\nand discussions), and give background essays on the three main interpretations\npresented: de Broglie\u0027s pilot-wave theory, Born and Heisenberg\u0027s quantum\nmechanics, and Schroedinger\u0027s wave mechanics. We provide an extensive analysis\nof the lectures and discussions that took place, in the light of current\ndebates about the meaning of quantum theory. The proceedings contain much\nunexpected material, including extensive discussions of de Broglie\u0027s pilot-wave\ntheory (which de Broglie presented for a many-body system), and a \"quantum\nmechanics\" apparently lacking in wave function collapse or fundamental time\nevolution. We hope that the book will contribute to the ongoing revival of\nresearch in quantum foundations, as well as stimulate a reconsideration of the\nhistorical development of quantum physics. A more detailed description of the\nbook may be found in the Preface. (Copyright by Cambridge University Press\n(ISBN: 9780521814218).)",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0609184",
"authors": [
"Guido Bacciagaluppi",
"Antony Valentini"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph",
"gr-qc",
"hep-th"
],
"journal_ref": "G. Bacciagaluppi and A. Valentini, Quantum Theory at the\n Crossroads: Reconsidering the 1927 Solvay Conference (Cambridge University\n Press, 2009)",
"license": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
"title": "Quantum Theory at the Crossroads: Reconsidering the 1927 Solvay Conference",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0609184"
},
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