Does Probabilism Solve the Great Quantum Mystery?

Maxwell, Nicholas (2004) Does Probabilism Solve the Great Quantum Mystery?.

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Abstract

What sort of entities are electrons, photons and atoms given their wave-like and particle-like properties? Is nature fundamentally deterministic or probabilistic? Orthodox quantum theory (OQT) evades answering these two basic questions by being a theory about the results of performing measurements on quantum systems. But this evasion results in OQT being a seriously defective theory. A rival, somewhat ignored strategy is to conjecture that the quantum domain is fundamentally probabilistic. This means quantum entities, interacting with one another probabilistically, must differ radically from the entities of deterministic classical physics, the classical wave or particle. It becomes possible to conceive of quantum entities as a new kind of fundamentally probabilistic entity, the “propensiton”, neither wave nor particle. A testable rival to OQT results.

Keywords:Quantum theory, probabilism, propensity, wave/particle dilemma, realism, interpretation, testability, crucial experiment, measurement problem, orthodox interpretation, interaction.
Subjects:General Issues: Explanation
General Issues: Realism/Anti-realism
Specific Sciences: Physics: Quantum Mechanics
ID Code:1704
Deposited By:Maxwell, Nicholas
Deposited On:12 April 2004