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UID:UW-Physics-Event-2990
DTSTART:20130411T160000Z
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DTSTAMP:20260420T020413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20130402T182653Z
LOCATION:5310 Chamberlin
SUMMARY:The Objective Indefiniteness Interpretation of Quantum Mechani
 cs: Partition logic\, logical information theory\, and quantum mechani
 cs\, R. G. Herb Condensed Matter Seminar\, David Ellerman\, University
  of California\, Riverside
DESCRIPTION:Quantum mechanics (QM) is not compatible with the usual Bo
 olean logic of subsets where elements have definite properties "all th
 e way down." But there is a recently developed dual logic of partition
 s (subsets and partitions are category-theoretically dual) which model
 s indefinite elements that become more definite as distinctions are ma
 de. If quantum mechanics was also incompatible with this unique dual l
 ogic of partitions\, then one might "press the panic button" and postu
 late unknowable hidden variables to restore definiteness or soar off i
 nto the void with "many worlds" or the like.<br>
\n<br>
\nBut quantum 
 mechanics fits perfectly with the dual logic of partitions. There is n
 o need for (more) bizarre flights of fancy to "interpret" QM. This obj
 ective indefiniteness approach to QM does not restore our common sense
  assumption of definiteness down into the quantum realm. But it does r
 estore sanity and understanding to the whole framework. That is\, we n
 ow have the logic that precisely fits QM--a logic that was developed i
 ndependently (i.e.\, without any thought of a QM connection) and that 
 is the unique mathematical dual to ordinary Boolean subset logic\, the
  logic assumed in classical physics. Moreover the normalized counting 
 measure on partitions gives the quantum-relevant logical information t
 heory--just as Boole developed logical probabilities as the normalized
  counting measure on subsets. Indeed\, when the mathematics of partiti
 on logic and logical information theory is linearized and lifted to co
 mplex vector spaces\, then it yields the mathematical framework of qua
 ntum mechanics (but not the specifically physical postulates).<br>
\n<
 br>
\nThe key concepts explicated by this approach are the old ideas o
 f "objective indefiniteness" (emphasized by Abner Shimony)\, objective
  probabilities\, and the objective realization of information\, "its" 
 from "dits" (= distinctions). Since partition logic\, logical informat
 ion theory\, and the lifting program "derives" the mathematics of quan
 tum mechanics\, it shows how that QM framework can be interpreted--and
  this set of results gives what might be called <i>the objective indef
 initeness interpretation of quantum mechanics</i>.
\n
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=2990
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