Abstract: It has been widely thought that the wave function describes a real, physical field in a realist interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this paper, I present a new analysis of the field ontology for the wave function. First, I argue that the non-existence of self-interactions for a quantum system such as an electron poses a puzzle for the field ontologists. If the wave function represents a physical field, then it seems odd that there are (electromagnetic and gravitational) interactions between the fields of two electrons but no interactions between two parts of the field of an electron. Next, I argue that the three solutions a field ontologist may provide are not fully satisfactory. Finally, I propose a solution of this puzzle that leads to a particle ontological interpretation of the wave function.
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Cites work
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1222681 (Why is no real title available?)
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Cited in
(10)- Can the ontology of Bohmian mechanics consists only in particles? The PBR theorem says no
- Electron charge density: a clue from quantum chemistry for quantum foundations
- The wave-function as a multi-field
- On Bell's Everett (?) Theory
- Fundamental physical ontologies and the constraint of empirical coherence: a defense of wave function realism
- The wave function as matter density: ontological assumptions and experimental consequences
- Wave-functionalism
- Wave function ontology
- Situated Modeling of Epistemic Puzzles
- Against field interpretations of quantum field theory
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