Abstract
Spontaneous collapse theories of quantum mechanics require an interpretation if their claim to solve the measurement problem is to be vindicated. The most straightforward interpretation rule, the fuzzy link, generates a violation of common sense known as the counting anomaly. Recently, a consensus has developed that the mass density link provides an appropriate interpretation of spontaneous collapse theories that avoids the counting anomaly. In this paper, I argue that the mass density link violates common sense in just as striking a way as the fuzzy link, and hence should not be regarded as a problem-free alternative to the fuzzy link. Hence advocates of spontaneous collapse theories must accept some violation of common sense, although this is not necessarily fatal to their project.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 165-180 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2005 |
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Keywords
- Counting anomaly
- Dynamical reduction
- Fuzzy link
- GRW theory
- Mass density link
- Spontaneous collapse
- Spontaneous localization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Interpreting spontaneous collapse theories. / Lewis, Peter.
In: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, Vol. 36, No. 1, 03.2005, p. 165-180.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Interpreting spontaneous collapse theories
AU - Lewis, Peter
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Spontaneous collapse theories of quantum mechanics require an interpretation if their claim to solve the measurement problem is to be vindicated. The most straightforward interpretation rule, the fuzzy link, generates a violation of common sense known as the counting anomaly. Recently, a consensus has developed that the mass density link provides an appropriate interpretation of spontaneous collapse theories that avoids the counting anomaly. In this paper, I argue that the mass density link violates common sense in just as striking a way as the fuzzy link, and hence should not be regarded as a problem-free alternative to the fuzzy link. Hence advocates of spontaneous collapse theories must accept some violation of common sense, although this is not necessarily fatal to their project.
AB - Spontaneous collapse theories of quantum mechanics require an interpretation if their claim to solve the measurement problem is to be vindicated. The most straightforward interpretation rule, the fuzzy link, generates a violation of common sense known as the counting anomaly. Recently, a consensus has developed that the mass density link provides an appropriate interpretation of spontaneous collapse theories that avoids the counting anomaly. In this paper, I argue that the mass density link violates common sense in just as striking a way as the fuzzy link, and hence should not be regarded as a problem-free alternative to the fuzzy link. Hence advocates of spontaneous collapse theories must accept some violation of common sense, although this is not necessarily fatal to their project.
KW - Counting anomaly
KW - Dynamical reduction
KW - Fuzzy link
KW - GRW theory
KW - Mass density link
KW - Spontaneous collapse
KW - Spontaneous localization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=14844311916&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=14844311916&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2004.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2004.08.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:14844311916
VL - 36
SP - 165
EP - 180
JO - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
JF - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
SN - 1355-2198
IS - 1
ER -