Glossary of quantum philosophy

Summary

This is a glossary for the terminology applied in the foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum metaphysics, collectively called quantum philosophy, a subfield of philosophy of physics.

Note that this is a highly debated field, hence different researchers may have different definitions on the terms.

Physics edit

Non-classical properties of quantum mechanics edit

nonseparability
See also: entangled
Nonlocality
Superposition of states
See also: Schrödinger's cat

Quantum phenomena edit

decoherence
uncertainty principle
See also: Einstein and the quantum
entanglement
See also: Bell's theorem, EPR paradox and CHSH inequality
quantum teleportation
superselection rule
quantum erasure
delayed choice experiment
Quantum Zeno effect
premeasurement
ideal measurement

Suggested physical entities edit

hidden variables
ensemble

Terms used in the formalism of quantum mechanics edit

Born's rule
collapse postulate
measurement
relative state
decoherent histories

Metaphysics edit

objective and subjective
ontic and epistemic
intrinsic and extrinsic
agnostic
Philosophical realism
determinism
causality
empiricism
rationalism
scientific realism
psychophysical parallelism

Interpretations of quantum mechanics edit

List of interpretations:

Bohmian Mechanics
de Broglie–Bohm theory
consistent histories
Copenhagen interpretation
conventional interpretation
Usually refer to the Copenhagen interpretation.
Ensemble Interpretation
Everett interpretation
See relative-state interpretation.
hydrodynamic interpretation
Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber theory (GRW theory / GRW effect)
many-worlds interpretation
many-minds interpretation
many-measurements interpretation
modal interpretations
objective collapse theory
orthodox interpretation
Usually refer to the Copenhagen interpretation.
Penrose interpretation
Pilot wave
Quantum logic
relative-state interpretation
relational quantum mechanics
stochastic interpretation
transactional interpretation

Uncategorized items edit

quantum Darwinism
completeness
relativistic measurement theory
consciousness and observer role
quantum correlation
quantum indeterminism
stochastic collapse
pointer state
quantum causality
postselection
entropy
quantum cosmology

People edit

Early researchers (before the 1950s):

1950s–2010s:

2000s or later:

See also edit

Further reading edit

  • Schlosshauer, Maximilian (2007). Decoherence and the Quantum-to-Classical Transition (1st ed.). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.
  • d'Espagnat, Bernard (2003). Veiled Reality: An Analysis of Quantum Mechanical Concepts (1st ed.). US: Westview Press.
  • d'Espagnat, Bernard (2006). On Physics and Philosophy (1st ed.). US: Princeton Univ. Press.
  • Greenberger, Daniel; Hentschel, Klaus; Weinert, Friedel, eds. (2009). Compendium of Quantum Physics: Concepts, Experiments, History and Philosophy (1st ed.). Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-70622-9.

External links edit

  • https://web.archive.org/web/20121004044323/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mert0130/teaching/qmreading.doc
  • Philosophy of Physics - A guide for the aspiring researcher
  • Quantum Mechanics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)