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

量子理论的概念分析：对波函数进行现实的解释

• 批准号: 1632546
• 负责人: Alyssa Thornton
• 金额: $ 20.2万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1632546&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Conceptual; Analysis; Quantum; Theories; Developing

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.

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。研究者建议发展一种现实的解释，其中波函数被理解为提供了对世界的直接、客观的描述。薛定谔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，物理学家和物理哲学家就对这种解释是否可能产生了分歧。有些人认为，虽然量子力学产生的预测与观察到的现象是一致的，但将其解释为对有人居住的世界提供直接客观的描述是错误的。另一些人则认为，与其说量子力学不是一种提供客观描述的正确理论，倒不如说量子力学蕴含着如此奇异的东西，不可能真正掌握和理解它。还有一些人试图发展出可理解的解释，但没有一种被物理学界广泛接受。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，提供一个现实的解释波函数。她这样做将有助于促进人们对往往被认为是不可理解的东西的理解。它将抓住公众的想象力，激发进一步的兴趣和参与科学。该项目的研究者是一名女性，她将全面参与STEM物理学领域的研究，从而为多样化的STEM劳动力做出贡献，并在女性代表性不足的学科中提供榜样。技术概要该项目中要开发的解释称为波函数现实主义，在20世纪90年代由物理哲学家大卫阿尔伯特再次采用。随着人们对它的了解越来越多，现在对它的评价也越来越广泛。它有可能为量子现实提供一个可理解的，甚至是可可视化的解释。然而，波函数实在论有两个突出的问题：第一，波函数实在论迄今为止只在非相对论量子力学的背景下发展起来，这使它面临着反对意见，即它可能不适合作为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所提供的基本实在的图景如何能够以人类观察者所认为的方式捕捉普通物质对象的存在。这个项目将通过发展一种扩展的波函数实在论来解释量子场论，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量子波函数和可观察宏观物体之间关系的新颖而有说服力的解释，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，并有助于使物理学家更接近确定波函数实在论是否是理解量子理论的正确方法。