Conceptual Analysis of Quantum Theories: Developing a Realistic Interpretation of the Wave Function

这是一个对量子理论中的波函数进行哲学概念分析的项目。研究人员建议开发一种现实的解释，其中波函数被理解为提供了对世界的直接、客观的描述。Erwin Schrodinger最初在量子力学的早期提出了这样的解释，但很快就被拒绝了。从那时起，物理学家和物理学哲学家在这种解释是否可能的问题上一直存在分歧。一些人认为，尽管量子力学产生的预测与观察到的现象一致，但将其解释为提供了对有人居住的世界的直截了当、客观的描述是错误的。其他人认为，与其说量子力学不是提供客观描述的合适理论，不如说量子力学蕴含着如此离奇的东西；不可能真正掌握和理解它。还有一些人试图开发出通俗易懂的解释；然而，这些解释都没有得到物理学界的广泛接受。毫无疑问，科学家非常擅长使用量子力学和其他量子理论，但提供一种有助于理解的解释完全是另一回事。研究人员将解决两个障碍，以提供对波函数的现实解释。她这样做将有助于促进对通常被认为是不可理解的事情的理解。它将激发公众的想象力，激发人们对科学的进一步兴趣和参与。该项目将涉及一名女性研究人员在STEM物理学领域的全面参与，从而为多样化的STEM劳动力做出贡献，并在女性代表不足的学科中提供一个榜样。技术总结这一项目将发展的解释，称为波函数现实主义，于20世纪90年代由物理学哲学家大卫·阿尔伯特再次提出。随着它变得更好地被理解，它现在得到了更广泛的评估。它有可能为量子现实提供一种可理解的、甚至是可视的描述。然而，它有两个明显的问题。首先，到目前为止，波函数实在论只是在非相对论量子力学的背景下发展起来的，这让它面临着反对意见，即它可能不能作为对相对论量子场论的解释。第二个问题是，许多人发现很难理解这种解释提供的基本现实图景如何能够以人类观察者似乎存在的方式捕捉普通物质的存在。这个项目将通过发展适合于解释量子场论的波函数实在论的扩展，并通过使用当代形而上学和物理哲学中发展的概念框架来提供关于量子波函数和可观察的宏观对象之间的关系的新颖和有说服力的解释，来回应这两个问题。满足这些目标将构成波函数实在论发展的实质性一步，并可能有助于物理学家更接近于确定波函数实在论是否是理解量子理论的正确方法。

General Audience Summary This is a project to engage in a philosophical conceptual analysis of the wave function in quantum theories. The investigator proposes to develop a realistic interpretation in which the wave function is understood as providing a straightforward, objective description of the world. Erwin Schrodinger initially proposed such an interpretation in the early days of quantum mechanics, but it was rejected soon thereafter. Physicists and philosophers of physics have been divided since then on whether such an interpretation is possible. Some argue that although quantum mechanics generates predictions that are consistent with observed phenomena, it is wrongheaded to interpret it as providing a straightforward, objective description of the inhabited world. Others argue that it is not so much that quantum mechanics is not the right kind of theory to provide an objective description, but that quantum mechanics implies such bizarre things; it is impossible to truly grasp and understand it. Still others have attempted to develop intelligible interpretations; however, none of them have been widely embraced by the physics community. No doubt, scientists are very skilled at using quantum mechanics and other quantum theories, but providing an interpretation that facilitates understanding is something else entirely. The investigator will address two obstacles to providing a realistic interpretation of the wave function. Her doing so will serve to promote understanding of what is often considered incomprehensible. It would capture the imagination of the public, sparking further interest and engagement with science. The project will involve the full participation of the investigator, a woman, in the STEM field of physics, thereby contributing to a diverse STEM workforce and providing a role model in a discipline in which women are under-represented.Technical Summary The interpretation to be developed in this project, called wave function realism, was taken up again in the 1990s by the philosopher of physics David Albert. It is now becoming more widely evaluated as it becomes better understood. It has the potential to provide an intelligible, even visualizable account of quantum reality. However, there are two glaring problems with it. First, wave function realism has thus far been developed only in the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, opening it up to objections that it may not be viable as an interpretation of relativistic quantum field theories. The second problem is that many find it difficult to see how the picture of fundamental reality offered by this interpretation is capable of capturing the existence of ordinary material objects in the way they seem to exist to human observers. This project will respond to both of these concerns by developing an extension of wave function realism apt for interpreting quantum field theories, and by using conceptual frameworks developed in contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of physics to provide a novel and persuasive account of the relationship between the quantum wave function and observable macroscopic objects. Satisfying these goals will constitute a substantial step in the development of wave function realism and could help bring physicists that much closer to determining whether wave function realism is the correct approach to understanding quantum theories.