Icefield, William (2020) Effective theory approach to the measurement problem. [Preprint]
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Abstract
One understanding of the Niels Bohr's interpretation of quantum mechanics suggests that the measurement problem arises because an observer description of reality is incomplete due to lack of complete access to an entire system of observed and observer. In general, an additional and external measuring observer is required to access the entire system. Inevitable entanglement between observers, measurement apparatus and measured objects is key to such an understanding of the measurement problem. Quantum mechanics only provides a complete 'incomplete' description of reality. Nevertheless, some issues, especially providing an account of why a preferred measurement basis arises, remain. Replacing relations between observed and observer in relational quantum mechanics with those between effective (approximate) theories, one arrives at a more clear understanding of why the measurement problem arises and how a preferred measurement basis is determined. The measurement problem exists because of measurement apparatus limitations, which only allow us to formulate and verify effective theories that inevitably neglect some details of nature.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | measurement problem, interpretations of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr, relational quantum mechanics, infinite regress, effective theory, quantum gravity | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Depositing User: | William Icefield | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jul 2020 22:56 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 18 Jul 2020 22:56 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 17483 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Date: | 8 July 2020 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/17483 |
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