The modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics: facing the interpretive problems of the theory

OLIMPIA LOMBARDI; JUAN SEBASTIÁN ARDENGHI; SEBASTIAN FORTIN; MARTÍN NARVAJA

Rosario, Santa Fe

Conferencia; Quantum Gravity and the Foundations of Physics: A conference in honor of Prof. Mario A. Castagnino; 2010

CONICET-IAFE-IFIR-UBA-UNR

Modal interpretations are realist, non-collapse interpretations, according to which the quantum state describes the possible properties of the system rather than the properties that it actually possesses. They can be viewed as a family, whose members differ to each other mainly in the specific rule designed to ascribe actually possessed properties to quantum systems. In a recent paper ([1]-[7]) we have proposed a new member of this family, and we have called it “modal-Hamiltonian interpretation” due to the central role played by the Hamiltonian both in the definition of quantum systems and subsystems and in the selection of the actual properties. In this talk we will recall how this new interpretation (i) shows its physical relevance in its application to well-known physical models, (ii) faces the problem of contextuality, on the basis of an ontology of bundles of possible properties, and (iii) solves the problem of measurement, both in the ideal and in the non-ideal version. Moreover, we will explain the present development of the interpretation towards the solution of the problems of non-locality ([8]) and of indistinguishability ([9]-[11]) and the account of the classical limit in terms of decoherence ([12]-[16]). Finally, we will argue for the interpretation by discussing its behavior under the transformations of the Galilean group ([17]-[18]) and the possibility of its extrapolation to quantum field theory ([20]).