Gao, Shan (2022) On the ontologies of quantum theories. [Preprint]

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Abstract

What is the ontology of a realist quantum theory such as Bohmian mechanics? This has been an important but debated issue in the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this paper, I present a new result which may help examine the ontology of a realist physical theory and make it more complete. It is that when different values of a physical quantity lead to different evolution of the assumed ontic state of an isolated system in a theory, this physical quantity also represents something in the ontology of the theory. Moreover, I use this result to analyze the ontologies of several realist quantum theories. It is argued that in Bohmian mechanics and collapse theories such as GRWm and GRWf, the wave function should be included in the ontology of the theory. In addition, when admitting the reality of the wave function, mass, charge and spin should also be taken as the properties of a quantum system.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Gao, Shan sgao7319@uni.sydney.edu.au
Keywords:	quantum theory; ontology; wave function; particle; mass; charge
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Prof. Shan Gao
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2022 13:05
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2022 13:05
Item ID:	21202
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	25 September 2022
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21202

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