Collapse of the Wave Function
Models, Ontology, Origin, and Implications

An overview of the collapse theories of quantum mechanics written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics.

Shan Gao (Edited by)

9781108428989, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 April 2018

358 pages, 8 b/w illus.
25.4 x 18 x 1.9 cm, 0.86 kg

'Collapse models are now moving from conferences on philosophy and physics to the experimental arena, and this volume assembled by Shan Gao is a timely collection of essays by leading practitioners which views collapse theories from multiple vantage points. It's valuable reading for theorists, experimenters, and philosophers of physics alike.' Stephen L. Adler, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey

This is the first single volume about the collapse theories of quantum mechanics, which is becoming a very active field of research in both physics and philosophy. In standard quantum mechanics, it is postulated that when the wave function of a quantum system is measured, it no longer follows the Schrödinger equation, but instantaneously and randomly collapses to one of the wave functions that correspond to definite measurement results. However, why and how a definite measurement result appears is unknown. A promising solution to this problem are collapse theories in which the collapse of the wave function is spontaneous and dynamical. Chapters written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics discuss the origin and implications of wave-function collapse, the controversies around collapse models and their ontologies, and new arguments for the reality of wave function collapse. This is an invaluable resource for students and researchers interested in the philosophy of physics and foundations of quantum mechanics.

List of contributors
Preface
Part I. Models: 1. How to teach and think about spontaneous wave function collapse theories: not like before Lajos Diósi
2. What really matters in Hilbert-space stochastic processes Giancarlo Ghirardi, Oreste Nicrosini and Alberto Rimini
3. Dynamical collapse for photons Philip Pearle
4. Quantum state reduction Dorje C. Brody and Lane P. Hughston
5. Collapse models and spacetime symmetries Daniel J. Bedingham
Part II. Ontology: 6. Ontology for collapse theories Wayne C. Myrvold
7. Properties and the born rule in GRW Theory Roman Frigg
8. Paradoxes and primitive ontology in collapse theories of quantum mechanics Roderich Tumulka
9. On the status of primitive ontology Peter J. Lewis
10. Collapse or no collapse? What is the best ontology of quantum mechanics in the primitive ontology framework? Michael Esfeld
Part III. Origin: 11. Quantum state reduction via gravity, and possible tests using Bose-Einstein condensates Ivette Fuentes and Roger Penrose
12. Collapse. What else? Nicolas Gisin
13. Three arguments for the reality of wave-function collapse Shan Gao
Part IV. Implications: 14. Could inelastic interactions induce quantum probabilistic transitions? Nicholas Maxwell
15. How the Schrödinger Equation would predict collapse: an explicit mechanism Roland Omnes
16. Wave function collapse, non-locality, and space-time structure Tejinder P. Singh
17. The weight of collapse: dynamical reduction models in general relativistic contexts Elias Okon and Daniel Sudarsky
Index.

Subject Areas: Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], History of science [PDX], Philosophy of science [PDA]