dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum profiles and paradoxes
| Authors | Frank Borg |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0611164 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0611164 |
Abstract
This paper discusses questions concerning the foundations of quantum mechanics (entanglement, wave collapse, irreversibility) with reference to the issues raised during a Minisymposium held in Helsinki, 1.6-3.6 in 1992, where A Shimony, A Peres and B d'Espagnat were invited to lecture. The measurement problem is related to the phenomenon of irreversibility which is known not to follow from any fundamental theory; e.g., the law of exponential decay does not follow from the Schr\"odinger equation in senso stricto. The approximations that lead to irreversibility are related to some form of ''forgetting'', or coarse graining. Some approaches to the question, why these approximations can be justified, are reviewed. The paper also discusses dynamical reduction schemes and it is suggested, that the corresponding non-linear modifications of the Schr\"odinger equation -- which lead to non-conservation of energy -- are actually ''effective'' Schr\"odinger equations for open systems (in analogy with the ''effective'' Lagrangians in QFT). Thus these modifications should be derived from a fundamental theory of interactions. The paper ends with some brief comments on the mind-body question in the quantum mechanical context. A postscript has been added (2006).
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"abstract": "This paper discusses questions concerning the foundations of quantum\nmechanics (entanglement, wave collapse, irreversibility) with reference to the\nissues raised during a Minisymposium held in Helsinki, 1.6-3.6 in 1992, where A\nShimony, A Peres and B d\u0027Espagnat were invited to lecture. The measurement\nproblem is related to the phenomenon of irreversibility which is known not to\nfollow from any fundamental theory; e.g., the law of exponential decay does not\nfollow from the Schr\\\"odinger equation in senso stricto. The approximations\nthat lead to irreversibility are related to some form of \u0027\u0027forgetting\u0027\u0027, or\ncoarse graining. Some approaches to the question, why these approximations can\nbe justified, are reviewed. The paper also discusses dynamical reduction\nschemes and it is suggested, that the corresponding non-linear modifications of\nthe Schr\\\"odinger equation -- which lead to non-conservation of energy -- are\nactually \u0027\u0027effective\u0027\u0027 Schr\\\"odinger equations for open systems (in analogy\nwith the \u0027\u0027effective\u0027\u0027 Lagrangians in QFT). Thus these modifications should be\nderived from a fundamental theory of interactions. The paper ends with some\nbrief comments on the mind-body question in the quantum mechanical context. A\npostscript has been added (2006).",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0611164",
"authors": [
"Frank Borg"
],
"categories": [
"physics.gen-ph",
"physics.hist-ph"
],
"title": "Quantum profiles and paradoxes",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0611164"
},
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