The Quantum Measurement Problem: Collapse of the Wave Function Explained

Rochelle Forrester

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2901820

Abstract

Quantum physicists have made many attempts to solve the quantum measurement problem, but no solution seems to have received widespread acceptance. The time has come for a new approach. In Sense Perception and Reality: A Theory of Perceptual Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and the Observer Dependent Universe and in a new paper The End of Realism I suggest the quantum measurement problem is caused by a failure to understand that each species has its own sensory world and that when we say the wave function collapses and brings a particle into existence we mean the particle is bought into existence in the human sensory world by the combined operation of the human sensory apparatus, particle detectors and the experimental set up. This is similar to the Copenhagen Interpretation suggested by Niels Bohr and others, but the understanding that the collapse of the wave function brings a particle into existence in the human sensory world removes the need for a dividing line between the quantum world and the macro world. The same rules can apply to both worlds and the ideas stated in this paper considerably strengthen the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Highlights

Quantum physicists have made many attempts to solve the quantum measurement problem, but no solution seems to have received widespread acceptance
The problem is whether the wave function collapses when an observation is made, and if so, why does it collapse when an observation is made? Critics of the idea of quantum entities not existing before an observation, and of observations collapsing the wave function and bringing quantum entities into existence, usually consider macro level entities exist independent of observation and the same should apply to quantum entities
Given that we have acquired our sensory apparatus through a process of biological evolution, just as all other species have acquired their sensory apparatus, there does not seem to be any reason to regard the human view of the world as truer or more real than that of any other animal

Summary

Introduction

Quantum physicists have made many attempts to solve the quantum measurement problem, but no solution seems to have received widespread acceptance. If each species views of the world are different and each is true, there is no real or true state in which anything can exist in, when not observed, that is known to any conscious being. The human view of the world, even when extended or enlarged by science, maths and logic remains a sensory world created by a particular sensory apparatus.

Results

Conclusion