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Quantum Mechanics as Classical Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Charles T. Sebens
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Abstract

Here I explore a novel no-collapse interpretation of quantum mechanics that combines aspects of two familiar and well-developed alternatives, Bohmian mechanics and the many-worlds interpretation. Despite reproducing the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics, the theory looks surprisingly classical. All there is at the fundamental level are particles interacting via Newtonian forces. There is no wave function. However, there are many worlds.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 2015 , pp. 266 - 291
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

†

Thanks to David Baker, Gordon Belot, Cian Dorr, Detlef Dürr, J. Dmitri Gallow, Sheldon Goldstein, Michael Hall, Daniel Peterson, Laura Ruetsche, Ward Struyve, Nicola Vona, and two anonymous referees for very useful feedback on drafts of this article. Thank you to Adam Becker, Sean Carroll, Dirk-André Deckert, Neil Dewar, Benjamin Feintzeig, Sophie Monahan, Cat Saint-Croix, Jonathan Shaheen, and Howard Wiseman for helpful discussions. This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under grant DGE 0718128.

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