Questions tagged [quantum-interpretations]
This tag is for questions relating to what, if anything, the quantum mechanical formalism and experimental results say about the way the world works.
1,078 questions
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I’m exploring a collapse model where mass induces a geometric-coherence tension, predicting a collapse probability [closed]
I’m exploring a collapse model where a nearby mass induces a “geometric-coherence tension” in the environment, giving rise to a position-dependent collapse probability P(r,m) = 1 - exp(-α · m / r^2) I’...
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How can the "true" density matrix for any quantum system evolve towards a diagonal form?
Regardless of how many particles we have, isn't it still the case that the combined system has a state which is a single vector in the (multi-particle) Hilbert space? Even after time-evolution, it is ...
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The No-Communication Theorem and QM Interpretations
In popular literature, the no-communication theorem is sometimes described as follows: when Alice tries to send a message to Bob using quantum entanglement, this message is always multiplied by random ...
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How does Bohmian mechanics change the analysis of the standard Bell type Alice/Bob experiment? [duplicate]
So I'm looking for some clarification on this. This is how I understand Bohmian mechanics. Particles have definite trajectories. The trajectory is guided by the wave-function. How does Bohmian ...
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Could quantum computers still work if Einstein was right about hidden variables? [closed]
Could quantum computers still work if Einstein was right about hidden variables? To put it another way, did we need John Bell and Bell's theorem to prove that quantum computers are feasible?
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Clarification regarding argument in EPR paper
I read through the original EPR paper recently and ran into some confusion regarding the central argument. As I understand it, the authors assert the following two definitions: Assumption 1: A ...
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Why randomness taking a specific outcome at that time? [duplicate]
Im a 16 year old and this question stuck in my mind. I cant find apt answer. Imagine we tossed a coin, we have 50-50% chance to get heads or tails. We say its random but truly we can predict the ...
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How can we be sure our ensembles of particles are prepared similarly in quantum mechanics?
A fundamental presupposition in quantum mechanics is that we are able to prepare ensembles of identical systems, sometimes called "similarly prepared systems". But how can we know whether ...
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Assumptions for the time density of new worlds for the many-world interpretation of a decaying nucleus
In Schrödinger’s cat experiments, the time of decay-observation chosen is the half-life, but any other arbitrary time can be chosen with appropriate probability modification. Let us now consider the ...
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In the Many-Worlds Interpretation, how many degrees of freedom does the universe have? [closed]
I was wondering if it is possible to have a ballpark estimate, or at least a plausible minimum or maximum of the number of possible eigenstates (or is it eigenvalues?) that the universal wavefunction ...
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Is the electron ubiquitous? [duplicate]
Quantum mechanics postulates that an electron is in many places at the same time. Can't we set up experiments to see if it exerts its electromagnetic influence in many places at the same time? (Or ...
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In principle, could the Many-Worlds Interpretation be tested via interference?
My understanding is that the Many-Worlds interpretation essentially says that the entire universe is one big wavefunction, and what we interpret as "measurement" or "collapse" is ...
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How much can an observer know about its own quantum state?
Let me state my background: I am familiar with the usual formalism of QM, of how measurements are modeled, measurement problem, decoherence, etc. In thinking about the process of measurement, I was ...
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Has anyone constructed an explicit hidden-variable theory that reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics for two separated qubits?
Consider the Hilbert space $$\mathcal{H} = \mathrm{span}\left( \{ |0\rangle\ |0\rangle, |0\rangle\ |1\rangle, |1\rangle\ |0\rangle, |1\rangle\ |1\rangle \} \right) \cong \mathbb{C}^4$$ of (pure) ...
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If the entire universe is governed by QM, and only by QM, would that imply MWI? [closed]
Edit: Based on @WillO's very relevant comment, I want to clarify what I mean by "fully governed by QM" - it means governed only by the laws of quantum mechanics, as opposed to classical ...
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