Event

Sep 25, 2023
A Brief History of the Misinterpretation of the Everett Interpretation

In April of 1956, Hugh Everett III’s draft doctoral thesis, tentatively titled “Wave Mechanics without Probability”, was circulated by his thesis advisor at Princeton University John Wheeler to several leading physicists in the West, including the godfather of quantum mechanics Niels Bohr. Everett aimed at resolving the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Everett’s solution to the mystery of how, when, where and why the wavefunction collapses in the measurement process was straightforward: it does not. Due to the opposition of Bohr and other adherents to the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics, an objection by Richard Feynman and Wheeler’s growing ambivalence, Everett was required to abridge his thesis, resulting in the publication of “’Relative State’ Formulation of Quantum Mechanics” in July 1957. Everett’s “machinery of interpretation”, including his information and measure theoretic interpretation of the wavefunction and his concept of correlation within the superposition, all of which he thought necessary to understanding his solution to the measurement problem, as well as his philosophy of science which provides important context for his theory, are largely absent from the latter “Short Thesis”.  Perhaps due to the unusual publication history of his works, many critics of Everett and even many of his supporters have overlooked the significance of the arguments made in the “Long Thesis”, which was published only in 1973. Everett’s fuller exposition there answers the most prominent questions raised by critics such as Graham, Greaves and Kent.

 

Address
MPIWG, Harnackstraße 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
Villa, Room V005/Seminar Room
Contact and Registration

Link to the Zoom-Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94690790127 Meeting-ID: 946 9079 0127 no registration required. For more information contact Kseniia Mohelsky officeblum@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de

About This Series

The seminar series of the Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program” runs once a month, usually on a Monday at 14:00 in the seminar room of the Villa (Harnackstraße 5). The talks deal primarily with the history, philosophy, and foundations of modern (post-WWII) physics or with wider epistemological questions related to the work of the group. There are no pre-circulated papers.

2023-09-25T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2023-09-25 14:00:00 2023-09-25 16:00:00 A Brief History of the Misinterpretation of the Everett Interpretation In April of 1956, Hugh Everett III’s draft doctoral thesis, tentatively titled “Wave Mechanics without Probability”, was circulated by his thesis advisor at Princeton University John Wheeler to several leading physicists in the West, including the godfather of quantum mechanics Niels Bohr. Everett aimed at resolving the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Everett’s solution to the mystery of how, when, where and why the wavefunction collapses in the measurement process was straightforward: it does not. Due to the opposition of Bohr and other adherents to the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics, an objection by Richard Feynman and Wheeler’s growing ambivalence, Everett was required to abridge his thesis, resulting in the publication of “’Relative State’ Formulation of Quantum Mechanics” in July 1957. Everett’s “machinery of interpretation”, including his information and measure theoretic interpretation of the wavefunction and his concept of correlation within the superposition, all of which he thought necessary to understanding his solution to the measurement problem, as well as his philosophy of science which provides important context for his theory, are largely absent from the latter “Short Thesis”.  Perhaps due to the unusual publication history of his works, many critics of Everett and even many of his supporters have overlooked the significance of the arguments made in the “Long Thesis”, which was published only in 1973. Everett’s fuller exposition there answers the most prominent questions raised by critics such as Graham, Greaves and Kent.   MPIWG, Harnackstraße 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany Villa, Room V005/Seminar Room MPRG Final Theory Program MPRG Final Theory Program Europe/Berlin public