A puzzle for the field ontologists

DOI10.1007/S10701-020-00390-0zbMATH Open1458.81004arXiv2011.01532OpenAlexW3096114239MaRDI QIDQ828381FDOQ828381

Authors: Shan Gao 

Publication date: 8 January 2021

Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

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.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.01532

Recommendations

• A Puzzle About Ontological Commitments
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4063069
• Ontology, set theory, and the paraphrase challenge
• Mathematical problem-solving and ontology: an exercise
• Situated Modeling of Epistemic Puzzles
• Ontologies and coherence spaces

zbMATH Keywords

quantum mechanicswave functionparticle ontologyfield ontologyself-interactions

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Electromagnetic interaction; quantum electrodynamics (81V10) Gravitational interaction in quantum theory (81V17)

Cites Work

• Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics
• Quantum mechanics on spacetime. I: Spacetime state realism
• Describing the macroscopic world: closing the circle within the dynamical reduction program
• Quantum states for primitive ontologists. A case study
• On the Common Structure of Bohmian Mechanics and the Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber Theory
• Predictions and Primitive Ontology in Quantum Foundations: A Study of Examples
• The wave function. Essays on the metaphysics of quantum mechanics
• Wave function ontology
• The Emergent Multiverse
• Space, time, and stuff. With contributions by Cian Dorr
• Collapse of the wave function. Models, ontology, origin, and implications
• The meaning of the wave function. In search of the ontology of quantum mechanics
• The wave-function as a multi-field
• Quantum holism: nonseparability as common ground
• Quantum solipsism and nonlocality
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• A New Argument for the Nomological Interpretation of the Wave Function: The Galilean Group and the Classical Limit of Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics

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

This page was built for publication: A puzzle for the field ontologists

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q828381)