Interpretation of quantum mechanics (original) (raw)
Quantum mechanics is a physical theory which is extremely non-intuitive. The equations have been very successful in predicting experimental results, but there have been a wide range of interpretations of what those equations mean.
Some of the most common interpretations are summarized here:
| Interpretation | Deterministic? | Waveform real? | OneUniverse? | Avoidshidden variables? | Local? | Avoidscollapsing wavefunctions? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen interpretation(Waveform not real) | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Copenhagen interpretation(Waveform real) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Consistent Histories | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Consciousness causes Collapse | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Everett many-worlds interpretation | Yes | Yes | No | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Bohm interpretation | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
*Many Worlds has no hidden variables, except for the multiple worlds themselves.
Each interpretation has many variants. It is very difficult to get a precise definition of the Copenhagen Interpretation - in the table above, 2 variants of the Copenhagen Interpretation are shown - one that regards the waveform as being a tool for calculating probabilties only, and the other regards the waveform as an "element of reality".