The problem of the 3N dimensions in Quantum Mechanics: a chemical approach

S. FORTIN; J. A. JAIMES ARRIAGA

Bratislava

Conferencia; East European Network for Philosophy of Science 2018 (EENPS 2018); 2018

Comenius University in Bratislava

When quantum mechanics is applied to a N-particles system, the result is a 3N-dimension wave function. This fact introduces a problem for interpretation: whereas the wave function has 3N dimensions, the empirical world has only three. Discussions on this issue continue until today. In this work we will introduce a chemical perspective by considering the mathematical formalization of the orbital approximation used in quantum chemistry, in order to suggest a possible solution to the problem. With this formalization we can go beyond the approximation itself and propose a valid argument for the ontology of quantum chemistry.