Quantum mechanics without the collapse postulate
Because of the measurement problem, the standard theory of quantum mechanics is at best incomplete and at worst logically inconsistent. Everett suggested that the measurement problem could be resolved by taking the linear dynamics to be a complete and accurate description of the time-evolution of every physical system. The purpose of this dissertation is to see what happens when one takes Everett's proposal seriously. This dissertation includes a discussion of the standard theory of quantum mechanics and its origins, the measurement problem, Everett's relative-state formulation, the many-worlds interpretation, Albert's bare theory (a version of quantum mechanics without the collapse postulate) and its suggestive properties, and Albert and Loewer's single-mind and many-minds theories. The author will show how one might construct a theory that exploits the bare theory's suggestive properties without encountering its empirical problems.
- Research Organization:
- Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7158809
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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