PhilSci Archive

Interpreting spontaneous collapse theories

Lewis, Peter J. (2004) Interpreting spontaneous collapse theories. [Preprint]

[img] Microsoft Word (.doc)
Interpreting_SCT_(Final).doc

Download (79kB)

Abstract

Spontaneous collapse theories of quantum mechanics require an interpretation if their claim to solve the measurement problem is to be vindicated. The most straightforward interpretation rule, the fuzzy link, generates a violation of common sense known as the counting anomaly. Recently, a consensus has developed that the mass density link provides an appropriate interpretation of spontaneous collapse theories that avoids the counting anomaly. In this paper, I argue that the mass density link violates common sense in just as striking a way as the fuzzy link, and hence should not be regarded as a problem-free alternative to the fuzzy link. Hence advocates of spontaneous collapse theories must accept some violation of common sense, although this is not necessarily fatal to their project.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Lewis, Peter J.
Keywords: Spontaneous collapse; Spontaneous localization; Dynamical reduction; GRW theory; Fuzzy link; Mass density link; Counting anomaly
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Peter J. Lewis
Date Deposited: 02 Sep 2004
Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 15:12
Item ID: 1928
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: August 2004
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1928

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item