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Can Everettian Interpretation Survive Continuous Spectrum?

Kim, Bryce (2016) Can Everettian Interpretation Survive Continuous Spectrum? [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper raises a simple continuous spectrum issue in many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, or Everettian interpretation. I will assume that Everettian interpretation refers to many-worlds understanding based on quantum decoherence. The fact that some operators in quantum mechanics have continuous spectrum is used to propose a simple thought experiment based on probability theory. Then the paper concludes it is untenable to think of each possibility that wavefunction $\Psi \rangle$ gives probability as actual universe. While the argument that continuous spectrum leads to inconsistency in the cardinality of universes can be made, this paper proposes a different argument not relating to theoretical math that actually has practical problems.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Kim, Brycehungrycereal@gmail.com0000-0002-7205-2876
Keywords: many-worlds interpretation, foundation of quantum mechanics, everettian interpretation, probability theory, thought experiment
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Mr. Bryce Kim
Date Deposited: 01 Jan 2017 15:34
Last Modified: 01 Jan 2017 15:34
Item ID: 12727
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 21 February 2016
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12727

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