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UID:UW-Physics-Event-2990
DTSTART:20130411T160000Z
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DTSTAMP:20240329T091945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20130402T182653Z
LOCATION:5310 Chamberlin
SUMMARY:The Objective Indefiniteness Interpretation of Quantum Mechani
cs: Partition logic\, logical information theory\, and quantum mechani
cs\, R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar\, David Ellerman\, University
of California\, Riverside
DESCRIPTION:Quantum mechanics (QM) is not compatible with the usual Bo
olean logic of subsets where elements have definite properties "all th
e way down." But there is a recently developed dual logic of partition
s (subsets and partitions are category-theoretically dual) which model
s indefinite elements that become more definite as distinctions are ma
de. If quantum mechanics was also incompatible with this unique dual l
ogic of partitions\, then one might "press the panic button" and postu
late unknowable hidden variables to restore definiteness or soar off i
nto the void with "many worlds" or the like.
\n
\nBut quantum
mechanics fits perfectly with the dual logic of partitions. There is n
o need for (more) bizarre flights of fancy to "interpret" QM. This obj
ective indefiniteness approach to QM does not restore our common sense
assumption of definiteness down into the quantum realm. But it does r
estore sanity and understanding to the whole framework. That is\, we n
ow have the logic that precisely fits QM--a logic that was developed i
ndependently (i.e.\, without any thought of a QM connection) and that
is the unique mathematical dual to ordinary Boolean subset logic\, the
logic assumed in classical physics. Moreover the normalized counting
measure on partitions gives the quantum-relevant logical information t
heory--just as Boole developed logical probabilities as the normalized
counting measure on subsets. Indeed\, when the mathematics of partiti
on logic and logical information theory is linearized and lifted to co
mplex vector spaces\, then it yields the mathematical framework of qua
ntum mechanics (but not the specifically physical postulates).
\n<
br>
\nThe key concepts explicated by this approach are the old ideas o
f "objective indefiniteness" (emphasized by Abner Shimony)\, objective
probabilities\, and the objective realization of information\, "its"
from "dits" (= distinctions). Since partition logic\, logical informat
ion theory\, and the lifting program "derives" the mathematics of quan
tum mechanics\, it shows how that QM framework can be interpreted--and
this set of results gives what might be called the objective indef
initeness interpretation of quantum mechanics.
\n
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=2990
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