THE REALISTIC QUANTUM

by Atilla Gurel *

 * Ms.Sc.(Diplom) in phyics , University of Karlsruhe

PART I -The History of Quantum Theory

Chapter 1: The origins

Facts that challenged the classical view of atoms and radiation :

The spectral distribution of black-body radiation

The photo-electric effect

The line spectra

The stability of atoms (Why does the electron not fall on the nucleus?)

Chapter 2 The first hints

The invention of the concept of indivisible energy-portions by Max Planck to explain the spectral distribution of black body radiation. The explanation of photoelectric effect by Albert Einstein. The emerging concept of photon and wave-particle duality.

Chapter 3 The big step

De Broglie's idea of matter waves

Chapter 4 The next big mystery

The double slit experiment. The wave particle duality , Schroedinger's attempt to interpret the wave-function as a real physical wave that is "condensing" around a nucleus during the position measurement without a "pointlike" counterpart.

Chapter 5 The next big step

The discovery of Schroedinger equation. The solution for hydrogen atom. The resolution of the mystery of line spectra and the resolution of the mystery of the stability of the atoms.

Chapter 6 The problems of wave only viewpoint

Why had Schroedinger to give up his initial interpretation of the wave function as a real physical wave without "pointlike" counterpart?

The problem of indeterminism of the wave function "collapse" during measurement

The problem of multidimensionality of the configurations space for a many particle system

The complex valuedness of the wave function

The superluminal wave propagation velocities associated with the "collapse" process (problem of nonlocality)

The problem of macroscopic limits (for example why wave packets corresponding to macroscopical objects don't spread in space with elapsing time?)

Chapter 7 Towards establishment of Copenhagen interpretation

Is the concept of pointlike particle inevitable because of the problems of wave-only viewpoint? Two different approaches: Broglies pilotwave approach(Pariser school) and Copenhagen approach . The elimination of pilotwave approach. Copenhagen interpretation as a way eliminating problems of "wave-only" viewpoint by declaring the wave as a mathematical tool for predicting the probability a particular outcome in a measurement rather then representing a real physical field. Conceptual problems of Copenhagen interpretation. Is it a solution or is it merely avoiding the problems by an "egg of the Columbus"- type method.

Chapter 8 EPR paradox

Correlations between space-like separated "measurement" events. Nonlocality cannot be avoided by merely declaring the wave function as a probability wave! Do we have a conflict with special theory of relativity?

Chapter 9 Uncertainty versus duality ?

Uncertainity principle between position and momentum as a consequence of viewing the same wave function in the ordinary space and the momentum space. Is particle-wave duality merely the uncertainty principle between position and momentum? Heisenberg's thought experiment of photons bouncing on electrons to illustrate the uncertainty principle. Why is this thought experiment misleading? Has the concept of pointlike particle disappeared? Are we left with wave function alone? But if the wave function is merely a probability wave then where is the reality?

Chapter 10 The second quantization

Two different meanings of the concept of duality:

1.wave versus indivisible portions of wave without necessarily pointlike entities

2. pointlike entity versus extended wave.

What is the contemporary meaning of the concept of wave-particle duality after the discovery and success of field quantization(second quantization) methods ? Does the pointlike entity have a place anymore?

Chapter 11 The uncertainty principle revised?

The quantum nondemolition experiments. What they show and what they don't show contrary to some suggestions. How minds cannot get rid of the demon of pointlike particle that appears in Heisenberg's misleading thought experiment to illustrate uncertainty principle. Why is the correctly interpreted uncertainty principle not violated by nondemolition experiments?

 

 

PART II - Current situation

Chapter 12 Alternatives to Copenhagen interpretation

Hidden variables in general, Bohm's pilotwave theory in special , Everett's many world interpretation , consistent histories, environment induced decoherence, decoherence as a mechanism eliminating inconsistent histories. Their advantages and their problems .

Chapter 13 Problems in chapter 6 rediscussed

The arguments against the viewpoint of "wave function representing a real physical wave" are unjustified.

PART III - The solution

Chapter 14 The quasiindeterminacy as a consequence of instability of nonstationary states

The consequence of chapter 13: The nonstationary states are unstable except for free particles because of the dissipation of energy by radiation due to the fluctuations/oscillations of the charge density distribution in nonstationary states. The radiation reaction force as a mechanism making the wave equation nonlinear so that a susceptibility to initial conditions and a quasiindeterminacy can emerge. Is this description consistent with quantum electrodynamics ?

Chapter 15 What happens to the wave function during a measurement?

 

Chapter 16 More on nonlocality

Is nonlocality a fact to live with? How do we interpret experiments that show correlations between space like seperated events?

PART IV - Reflections

Chapter 17 Fatal philosphical mistake

The philosophical complications caused by the use of the term measurement in the axioms of a theory. The vagueness of the formulation caused by the vagueness of the term measurement . The self reference caused by the use of the term measurement in axioms.

Chapter 18 Pandora's box

The unverified (even principially neither verifiable nor falsifiable) myth about the role of consciousness in a quantum measurement. How did this myth influence different domains of human culture?

Chapter 19 The fundamental questions

Does free will exist or are we automatons? Is the universe a self evident reality? On Goldbach's conjecture and transcendental nature of mathematics etc. etc.

 References

 Appendix

Acknowledgements