Probing the Meaning of Quantum Mechanics

This book provides a new original perspective on one of the most fascinating and important open questions in science: What is quantum mechanics talking about? Quantum theory is perhaps our best confirmed physical theory. However, in spite of its great empirical effectiveness and the subsequent technological developments that it gave rise to in the 20th century, from the interpretation of the periodic table of elements to CD players, holograms and quantum state teleportation, it stands even today without a universally accepted interpretation. The novelty of the book comes from the multiple viewpoints and the original angles taken by a group of young researchers from Europe and South America who gathered for several years under the auspices of the Center Leo Apostel.

Each member of the group presented ideas concerning the interpretation of quantum mechanics. We had discussions ranging from the philosophical underpinnings of local realism and holism, information and decision theoretic approaches to quantum theory all the way to the many worlds interpretation. Strikingly, in much the same way as different — and indeed incompatible observations are needed to fully describe the physical state of affairs in quantum mechanics — the various interpretations of the theory also seem to shed viable, but not necessarily compatible, perspectives on different aspects of the same grand framework. The discussions that followed were both technical and lively, but perhaps their most remarkable quality was the absence of rigid points of view that unfortunately seems to paralyze so much of the discussion in this area. This book is an expression which can be interesting not only to the specialists but also for the general public attempting to get a grasp on one of the still most fundamental questions of present physics.Contents:

Do Quantum Dice Remember? (T Durt)
Quantum Ontology in the Light of Gauge Theories (G Catren)
The Probabilistic Structure of Quantum Theory as Originating from Optimal Observation in the Face of the Observer's Lack of Knowledge of His Own State (S Aerts)
Quantum Realism, Information, and Epistemological Modesty (A Grinbaum)
The Problem of Representation and Experience in Quantum Mechanics (C de Ronde)
Bohrian Complementarity in the Light of Kantian Teleology (H Pringe)
How Understanding Matters — Or Not (S Le Bihan)
On the Orthocomplementation of State-Property-Systems of Contextual Systems (B D'Hooghe)
The Deleuzian Concept of Structure and Quantum Mechanics (W A Christiaens)
Understanding Probabilities in the Everett Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (A Barton)
Metaphysical Underdetermination and Logical Determination: The Case of Quantum Mechanics (J R B Arenhart)
Neither Name, Nor Number (F Holik)
EPR Correlations, Bell Inequalities and Common Cause Systems (G Hofer-Szabó)
A Logic-Algebraic Framework for Contextuality and Modality in Quantum Systems (H Freytes)Student, professional, and the general public interested in the quantum theory. Key Features:

The constitution of the group is of mainly PhD students in Europe working in the physics, philosophy and logic of quantum theory. The group, though young, is technically skilled both in the formalism as well as in the traditional and contemporary philosophical discussions regarding the interpretation of quantum mechanics. It is such a constitution which can provide the conditions for a “fresh look” at the field of foundations of quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is simply fascinating and remains even today an open problem for those who wish to seek for answers

The book will be a single unity, as it will be directed by “seeking understanding of quantum mechanics”, but it will also be wide and diverse in scope of topics and personal in choice and motivation of the topics handled, which is what makes this enterprise unique