The information approach to the interpretation of quantum mechanics (C. Efthymiopoulos, 12/7/2022)
Channel: Academy of Athens
Date: 2022-07-18

Christos Efthymiopoulos
University of Padova, Department of Mathematics

Abstract:

One of the central questions in the foundations of quantum mechanics regards the nature of the wavefunction, and in particular the interpretation of its role as "ontic" or "epistemic". In the seminar we will discuss the so-called "information" or "statistical" interpretation of quantum mechanics, which is based on the epistemic approach to the laws of physics. We will see how such an approach necessarily leads to an understanding of QM antipodal to realistic theories such as Bohmian Mechanics or any other attempt to keep the notion of a deterministic trajectories for particles or fields. In particular, we will see how the statistical interpretation necessarily implies a treatment on equal footing of pure and mixed states, letting open the possibility that the universe in which we live has been in a mixed state already since its emergence to existence.

Talk presented at the Research Center for Astronomy and Applied Mathematics of the Academy of Athens