The Copenhagen interpretation Born, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Bohr (1925-1927) Even though the...
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![Page 1: The Copenhagen interpretation Born, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Bohr (1925-1927) Even though the Copenhagen interpretation is supposed to be the “orthodox”](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082714/56649e575503460f94b50583/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Copenhagen interpretationBorn, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Bohr (1925-1927)
• Even though the Copenhagen interpretation is supposed to be the “orthodox” interpretation, there is widespread disagreement on it because…
• …it requires a process (called wavefunction collapse) for which there is no known physical explanation.
• The disagreement is between those who believe a physical explanation might be possible and those who don’t.
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In this interpretation…• Space and time are assumed to be
objectively real.• Prior to an observation, the universe is
assumed to be divided between a quantum wavefunction that cannot be observed and a classical object that can be observed.
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The wavefunction is assumed to be a solution to the Schrödinger equation, the
fundamental equation of quantum physics
• The wavefunction is assumed to exist whether or not there are observations.
• It represents the probability (not the certainty) that a specific result (e.g., a position) will be obtained if the observer makes a specific type of measurement (e.g., of position).
• It describes all of the possible results (e.g., all of the possible positions) that could be obtained , but cannot predict which result will actually be obtained.
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Wavefunction collapse
• At the moment of observation, the wavefunction is assumed to change irreversibly from a description of all of the possibilities (e.g., of position) that could be observed to a description of only the event that is observed.
• This is called wavefunction reduction, or wavefunction collapse.
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The next observation• After an observation and wavefunction
collapse, a new wavefunction emerges.• It represents all of the possibilities that are
allowed by the previous observation.• Another observation results in another
wave function collapse, etc.• In this interpretation, a sequence of
observations result from a sequence of wavefunction collapses.
• Without wavefunction collapse, there are no observations.
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Wavefunction collapse (cont.)
• Any solution to the Schrödinger equation must at all times contain as many possibilities as were present initially.
• No mechanism that obeys the Schrödinger equation (i.e., no physical process) can change the number of possibilities.
• This means that no physical process can cause collapse.
• Thus, collapse requires a nonphysical agent.
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What is the only nonphysical agent that we know of?
• Most physicists do not like to admit that collapse might be caused by Awareness.
• Awareness, being nonphysical, does not obey the Schrödinger equation.
• Therefore, Awareness might collapse the wavefunction.
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Wavefunction collapse (cont.)• Even if there were a physical mechanism for
wavefunction collapse, it would produce nothing but a collapsed wavefunction.
• A collapsed wavefunction is not aware. It is only a collapsed wavefunction.
• Awareness exists on a different level from the objects of awareness.
• What “we” are aware of cannot be what is aware.
• Awareness is self-evident. It needs no proof. That “we” are aware is the only thing that “we” can be certain of because Awareness does not change.
• All objects of Awareness change with time.
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The problem of the observer• What do we mean by an observer?
• In the Copenhagen interpretation, a sequence of observations results from a sequence of wavefunction collapses.
• An example of a sequence of observations is a sequence of thoughts, feelings, emotions, body sensations, and perceptions, i.e., a sequence of mind states.
• (These can be thought of as a sequence of arisings in Awareness.)
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The Copenhagen interpretation does not require separate
observers
• It requires only observations.
• The separate “observer” is only a mental construct (which could result from a sequence of wavefunction collapses).
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If there are observations but not separate observers…
• There is no separation…• …and there is no suffering.• “We” think there is more than one
“observer” because “we” have been taught so.
• Suppose “we” have been taught wrong!• Then the best thing “we” can say about all
of “our” suffering is that it has told “us” that there must be a better way!
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The Copenhagen interpretation could be purely subjective
• The Copenhagen interpretation normally requires an objective wavefunction that collapses at the moment of an observation.
• However, suppose there is no wavefunction and no wavefunction collapse.
• Then an observation would consist of simply a sequence of mind states.
• This would be a purely subjective interpretation.
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For example,
• Christopher Fuchs has created a subjective interpretation in which quantum probabilities are interpreted as Bayesian probabilities.
• Bayesian probabilities are probabilities that an agent’s belief will change to a new belief as a result of new data (from new observations).
• At the present time, Fuchs’ interpretation requires an external object to be observed.
• However, if the observation were purely subjective, then his interpretation would be a completely subjective interpretation of quantum theory!