Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Quantum mechanics has, in the past 80 years, transformed much of physics and given rise to innumerable applications such as transistors, lasers, nanotechnologies, etc.  Investigators, however, do not agree on the interpretation of the formalism, nor even on the necessity of interpreting it.  Because the theory goes against common sense, some believe that it only represents knowledge, or information, rather than a description of real properties of microscopic objects (electrons, photons, etc.).  Much of my work in the past few years has consisted in providing arguments against this so-called epistemic view of quantum states.  Inasmuch as a theory's interpretations point to the way the theory can be true, they contribute in making it intelligible, provided they are spelled out precisely and completely.  This research program aims at analyzing several problems in different interpretations of quantum mechanics, with the view of making these interpretations more precise.  More specifically, I intend to address four problems.  (1) I will sharpen the analysis I have provided of the epistemic view of quantum states.  (2) I will investigate the relativistic properties of Bohmian trajectories, in the context of Bohm's realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics.  (3) I will examine the analogy between Bohmian trajectories and variants of Everett's many-worlds interpretation.  (4) And I will finally address problems associated with the so-called transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics.  Benefits of this research program include a better comprehension of quantum mechanics, an openness to changes in the formalism should experiment so require, and a possible outreach to the public concerning the kind of understanding science brings.