Towards a Realistic Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Providing a Model of the Physical World

It is argued that a realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics is possible and useful. Current interpretations, from “Copenhagen” to “many worlds” are critically revisited. The difficulties for intuitive models of quantum physics are pointed out and possible solutions proposed. In particular the existence of discrete states, the quantum jumps, the alleged lack of objective properties, measurement theory, the probabilistic character of quantum physics, the wave–particle duality and the Bell inequalities are analyzed. The sketch of a realistic picture of the quantum world is presented. It rests upon the assumption that quantum mechanics is a stochastic theory whose randomness derives from the existence of vacuum fields. They correspond to the vacuum fluctuations of quantum field theory, but taken as real rather than virtual.

[1]  R. Feynman.  QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter , 1985 .

[2]  Daniel C. Cole,et al.  The quantum dice: An introduction to stochastic electrodynamics , 1996 .

[3]  D. Roberts,et al.  On the attraction between two perfectly conducting plates , 2011 .

[4]  R. I. G. Hughes,et al.  The Shaky Game: Einstein, Realism, and the Quantum Theory. , 1991 .

[5]  F. Suppe.  The Structure of Scientific Theories. , 1975 .

[6]  Edward Nelson,et al.  Review of stochastic mechanics , 2012 .

[7]  B G Sidharth,et al.  Law without Law , 2007, 0710.3900.

[8]  David Wick.  The Infamous boundary : seven decades of heresy in quantum physics , 1995 .

[9]  Asher Peres,et al.  Quantum Theory Needs No ‘Interpretation’ , 2000 .

[10]  B. D'espagnat,et al.  Quantum Physics and Reality , 2011, 1101.4545.

[11]  E. Santos.  Quantum Logic, Probability, and Information: The Relation with the Bell Inequalities , 2003 .

[12]  Gary James Jason,et al.  The Logic of Scientific Discovery , 1988 .

[13]  D. Bohm.  A SUGGESTED INTERPRETATION OF THE QUANTUM THEORY IN TERMS OF "HIDDEN" VARIABLES. II , 1952 .

[14]  H. Jehle,et al.  Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist. , 1951 .

[15]  Emilio Santos.  Bell's theorem and the experiments: Increasing empirical support for local realism? , 2004 .

[16]  Peter Mittelstaedt.  The interpretation of quantum mechanics and the measurement process , 1997 .

[17]  R. Omnes.  Consistent Histories and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics , 1995 .

[18]  J. Wheeler,et al.  Quantum theory and measurement , 1983 .

[19]  A. Zeilinger,et al.  Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics , 1989 .

[20]  F. Laloë.  Do We Really Understand Quantum Mechanics?: Contents , 2012 .

[21]  E. Schrödinger,et al.  ARE THERE QUANTUM JUMPS? , 1952, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

[22]  B. D'espagnat.  Veiled Reality: An Analysis Of Present-day Quantum Mechanical Concepts , 1995 .

[23]  N. Mermin.  Hidden variables and the two theorems of John Bell , 1993, 1802.10119.

[24]  J. Bell,et al.  Schrödinger: Are there quantum jumps? , 1987 .

[25]  Bryce S. DeWitt,et al.  The Many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics , 2015 .

[26]  Berthold-Georg Englert,et al.  On quantum theory , 2013, 1308.5290.

[27]  Jagdish Mehra,et al.  The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics , 2001 .

[28]  Peter W. Milonni,et al.  The Quantum Vacuum: An Introduction to Quantum Electrodynamics , 1993 .

[29]  Pearle,et al.  Markov processes in Hilbert space and continuous spontaneous localization of systems of identical particles. , 1990, Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

[30]  E. Santos.  Relevance of a random choice in tests of Bell inequalities with two atomic qubits , 2009, 0901.0812.

[31]  Fry,et al.  Proposal for a loophole-free test of the Bell inequalities. , 1995, Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

[32]  Daniel M. Greenberger,et al.  The Shaky Game: Einstein, Realism and the Quantum Theory , 1988 .

[33]  Robert W. Spekkens,et al.  Einstein, Incompleteness, and the Epistemic View of Quantum States , 2007, 0706.2661.

[34]  Max Tegmark,et al.  The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Many Worlds or Many Words? , 1997, Fortschritte der Physik.

[35]  Erkki J. Brändas,et al.  Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory : E. Joos, H. D. Zeh, C. Kiefer, D. Giulini, J. Kupsch and I.-O Stamatescu, Springer-Verlag, New York, 2003 , 2004 .

[36]  F. Laloë,et al.  Do we really understand quantum mechanics? Strange correlations, paradoxes, and theorems , 2001, quant-ph/0209123.

[37]  J. Bell,et al.  Speakable and Unspeakable in Quatum Mechanics , 1988 .

[38]  F. Schroeck,et al.  On the unavoidability of the interpretations of quantum mechanics , 2012, 1211.3883.

[39]  Aaron J. Miller,et al.  Detection-loophole-free test of quantum nonlocality, and applications. , 2013, Physical review letters.

[40]  Mario Bunge,et al.  Philosophy of Physics , 1972 .

[41]  I. Stamatescu,et al.  Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory , 1996 .

[42]  Imre Lakatos,et al.  The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes , 1978 .

[43]  E. A. Milne,et al.  Physics and Philosophy , 2015, The Medico-chirurgical review.

[44]  J. D. Trimmer,et al.  THE PRESENT SITUATION IN QUANTUM MECHANICS: A TRANSLATION OF SCHR6DINGER'S "CAT PARADOX" PAPER , 2014 .

[45]  Weber,et al.  Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems. , 1986, Physical review. D, Particles and fields.

[46]  Matthew F Pusey,et al.  On the reality of the quantum state , 2011, Nature Physics.

[47]  S. Lamoreaux.  DEMONSTRATION OF THE CASIMIR FORCE IN THE 0.6 TO 6 MU M RANGE , 1997 .

[48]  S. French,et al.  On Physics and Philosophy , 2007 .

[49]  J. Bell.  On the Problem of Hidden Variables in Quantum Mechanics , 1966 .

[50]  J. Bell,et al.  Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics: Preface to the first edition , 2004 .

[51]  W. Heisenberg.  Physics and Beyond: Encounters and Conversations , 1971 .

[52]  L. Ballentine.  Quantum mechanics : a modern development , 1998 .

[53]  N. Bohr.  The Quantum Postulate and the Recent Development of Atomic Theory , 1928, Nature.

[54]  J. Bell.  On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox , 1964 .

[55]  Karl Raimund Sir Popper,et al.  Quantum theory and the schism in physics , 1982 .

[56]  David Jennings,et al.  Distinct quantum states can be compatible with a single state of reality. , 2012, Physical review letters.

[57]  Gregg Jaeger,et al.  Do We Really Understand Quantum Mechanics? , 2012 .

[58]  A. Shimony,et al.  Proposed Experiment to Test Local Hidden Variable Theories. , 1969 .

[59]  D. Wick,et al.  The Infamous Boundary: Seven Decades of Controversy in Quantum Physics , 1994 .

[60]  C. Fuchs.  Quantum Mechanics as Quantum Information (and only a little more) , 2002, quant-ph/0205039.

[61]  Christopher Isham,et al.  Lectures On Quantum Theory: Mathematical And Structural Foundations , 1995 .

[62]  M. Jammer.  The philosophy of quantum mechanics , 1974 .

[63]  P. Grangier,et al.  Experimental Evidence for a Photon Anticorrelation Effect on a Beam Splitter: A New Light on Single-Photon Interferences , 1986 .

[64]  R. Omnes,et al.  Understanding Quantum Mechanics , 2020 .

[65]  Vlatko Vedral,et al.  Foundations and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics , 2001 .

[66]  M. Redhead.  Incompleteness, nonlocality, and realism , 1987 .

[67]  Albert Einstein,et al.  Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete? , 1935 .

[68]  L. Marchildon.  Can Everett be Interpreted Without Extravaganza? , 2010, 1001.1926.

[69]  H. Everett.  "Relative State" Formulation of Quantum Mechanics , 1957 .

[70]  P. Mittelstaedt.  The Problem of Interpretation of Modern Physics , 2011 .

[71]  E. Wigner.  Remarks on the Mind-Body Question , 1995 .