Sebens, Charles (2014) Killer Collapse: Empirically Probing the Philosophically Unsatisfactory Region of GRW. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

GRW theory offers precise laws for the collapse of the wave function. These collapses are characterized by two new constants, λ and σ. Recent work has put experimental upper bounds on the collapse rate, λ. Lower bounds on λ have been more controversial since GRW begins to take on a many-worlds character for small values of λ. Here I examine GRW in this odd region of parameter space where collapse events act as natural disasters that destroy branches of the wave function along with their occupants. Our continued survival provides evidence that we don't live in a universe like that. I offer a quantitative analysis of how such evidence can be used to assess versions of GRW with small collapse rates in an effort to move towards more principled and experimentally-informed lower bounds for λ.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Sebens, Charles csebens@gmail.com
Keywords:	GRW, many-worlds interpretation, Everettian quantum mechanics, collapse rate
Subjects:	General Issues > Confirmation/Induction Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Mr. Charles Sebens
Date Deposited:	24 Jun 2014 15:00
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2014 15:39
Item ID:	10779
Subjects:	General Issues > Confirmation/Induction Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	23 June 2014
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10779

Available Versions of this Item

• Killer Collapse: Empirically Probing the Philosophically Unsatisfactory Region of GRW. (deposited 24 Jun 2014 15:00) [Currently Displayed]
  • Killer Collapse: Empirically Probing the Philosophically Unsatisfactory Region of GRW. (deposited 27 Nov 2014 15:39)
    • Killer Collapse: Empirically Probing the Philosophically Unsatisfactory Region of GRW. (deposited 01 Mar 2015 01:24)

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