Quantum Worlds
Perspectives on the Ontology of Quantum Mechanics

Offers a comprehensive and up-to-date volume on the conceptual and philosophical problems related to the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Olimpia Lombardi (Edited by), Sebastian Fortin (Edited by), Cristian López (Edited by), Federico Holik (Edited by)

9781108473477, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 April 2019

408 pages, 16 b/w illus. 1 table
25.3 x 17.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.97 kg

Quantum theory underpins much of modern physics and its implications draw the attention of industry, academia and public funding agencies. However there are many unsettled conceptual and philosophical problems in the interpretation of quantum mechanics which are a matter of extensive debate. These hotly debated topics include the meaning of the wave function, the nature of the quantum objects, the role of the observer, the non-locality of the quantum world, and the emergence of classicality from the quantum domain. Containing chapters written by eminent researchers from the fields of physics and philosophy, this book provides interdisciplinary, comprehensive and up-to-date perspectives of the problems related to the interpretation of quantum theory. It is ideal for academic researchers in physics and philosophy working on the ontology of quantum mechanics.

Preface
Introduction
Part I. Ontology from Different Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: 1. Ontology for relativistic collapse theories Wayne C. Myrvold
2. The Modal-Hamiltonian interpretation: measurement, invariance and ontology Olimpia Lombardi
3. Quantum mechanics and perspectivalism Dennis Dieks
4. Quantum physics grounded on Bohmian mechanics Nino Zanghi
5. Ontology of the wave function and the many-worlds interpretation Lev Vaidman
6. Generalized contexts for quantum histories Marcelo Losada, Leonardo Vanni and Roberto Laura
Part II. Realism, Wavefunction and Primitive Ontology: 7. What is the quantum face of realism? James Ladyman
8. To be a realist about quantum theory Hans Halvorson
9. Locality and wave function realism Alyssa Ney
Part III. Individuality, Distinguishability and Locality: 10. Making sense of non-individuals in quantum mechanics Jonas R. B. Arenhart, Otávio Bueno and Décio Krause
11. From quantum to classical physics: the role of distinguishability Ruth Kastner
12. Individuality and the account of non-locality: the case for the particle ontology in quantum physics Michael Esfeld
13. Beyond loophole-free experiments: a search for non-ergodicity Alejandro Hnilo
Part IV. Symmetries and Structure in Quantum Mechanics: 14. Space-time symmetries in quantum mechanics Cristian López and Olimpia Lombardi
15. Symmetry, structure, and emergent subsystems Nathan Harshman
16. Majorization, across the (quantum) universe Guido Bellomo and Gustavo M. Bosyk
Part V. The Relationship between the Quantum Ontology and the Classical World: 17. A closed-system approach to decoherence Sebastian Fortin and Olimpia Lombardi
18. A logical approach to the quantum-to-classical transition Sebastian Fortin, Manuel Gadella, Federico Holik and Marcelo Losada
19. Quantum mechanics and molecular structure: the case of optical isomers Juan Camilo Martínez González, Jesús Jaimes Arriaga and Sebastian Fortin
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Astronomy, space & time [PG], Philosophy of science [PDA]