Towards objectification of measurement in an orthodox but incomplete quantum mechanics

Abstract

The problem of objectification of measurement is investigated in orthodox quantum mechanics, that is assuming the validity of the Schrodinger equation (and the other postulates) for the composite object-plus-measuring-instrument system. It is argued that by giving physical meaning to basic entities, the positivist and the realist positions must be explicitly distinguished. It is shown that the objectification problem is satisfactorily solved within quantum mechanics for the positivist, but not for the realist. For the latter, a partially satisfactory solution is obtained by assuming that the quantum mechanical description of individual systems is incomplete and, by assuming further, that the pointer observable has definite values prior to any measurement in any quantum state (a so-called beable).