David Deutsch's Many Worlds Interpretation and the Double Slit Experiment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around David Deutsch's Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics, particularly in relation to the double slit experiment. Participants explore Deutsch's views on wave-particle duality and the implications of his interpretation for understanding interference phenomena. The conversation includes references to popular science literature and the expectations for academic rigor in discussions about quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether David Deutsch rejects wave-particle duality and seek clarification on how he explains interference in the double slit experiment.
  • There is a suggestion that Deutsch believes a single photon interferes with photons from other worlds, but this is not universally accepted or clarified.
  • One participant argues that popular science books, like Deutsch's "The Fabric of Reality," should not be dismissed as invalid references, citing the value of such works in understanding complex topics.
  • Another participant emphasizes the distinction between popular science and academic discourse, advocating for a focus on more rigorous academic sources.
  • Concerns are raised about the validity of linking to a popular science article by Sean Carroll as a source for understanding Deutsch's position, with a suggestion to refer to a more technical paper by Deutsch instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity of popular science literature in academic discussions, with some advocating for its inclusion and others insisting on a preference for more rigorous academic sources. There is no consensus on Deutsch's stance regarding wave-particle duality or the interpretation of interference in the double slit experiment.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the limitations of relying on popular science books for detailed understanding of quantum mechanics, suggesting that such sources may not meet the expectations for academic rigor in discussions. The conversation reflects ongoing debates about the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the appropriateness of various types of literature in scholarly discussions.

Marek Domanski
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TL;DR
I wish to know whether David Deutsch really doesn't believe in wave-particle duality, and, if so, how he explains interference in the light of this.
David Deutsch is a well known proponent of the Many Worlds Interpretation. His argument seems to be that a single photon in the double slit experiment must be interfering with one from another world. It is commonly held by physicists that the the photon, as a wave going through double slits, can produce interference. Possibly he does not believe that the photon can be treated as a wave. Is this true, or does he have another reason? I am having difficulty find this information on the internet. I read his book The "Fabric of Reality" years ago and can't remember if, or how, he justified his position.
 
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Marek Domanski said:
Summary:: I wish to know whether David Deutsch really doesn't believe in wave-particle duality, and, if so, how he explains interference in the light of this.

David Deutsch is a well known proponent of the Many Worlds Interpretation. His argument seems to be that a single photon in the double slit experiment must be interfering with one from another world. It is commonly held by physicists that the the photon, as a wave going through double slits, can produce interference. Possibly he does not believe that the photon can be treated as a wave. Is this true, or does he have another reason? I am having difficulty find this information on the internet. I read his book The "Fabric of Reality" years ago and can't remember if, or how, he justified his position.
The Fabric of Reality is a popular science book and hence not a valid reference on here. Regarding the MWI you could try this:

https://www.preposterousuniverse.co...y-worlds-interpretation-of-quantum-mechanics/
 
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PeroK said:
The Fabric of Reality is a popular science book and hence not a valid reference on here. Regarding the MWI you could try this:

https://www.preposterousuniverse.co...y-worlds-interpretation-of-quantum-mechanics/
The idea that a popular science book by a reputable physicist has no value seems to me to be preposterous. Are you saying that we cannot learn anything from such books? Einstein wrote a popular science book on Relativity and explained it really well. The link you sent me explains Carrolls view not Deutsch's. There is a difference between Carrol and Deutsch on the reasons for the MWI. Also Carroll's page is a popular page!
 
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Marek Domanski said:
The idea that a popular science book by a reputable physicist has no value seems to me to be preposterous. Are you saying that we cannot learn anything from such books?
This is not a popular-science forum. The "I" in the thread description implies that undergraduate level physics and mathematics is expected. There is nothing against popular-science sources - there are plenty of reputable ones. But, the aim of this forum is to provide the next level of detail (and the next level of understanding).

There is a significant difference between QM as a popular science and QM as an academic subject as taught at universities. We try to focus on the latter.
 
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PeroK said:
There is nothing against popular-science sources - there are plenty of reputable ones. But, the aim of this forum is to provide the next level of detail
While this is true, the OP does have a fair point that the article you linked to by Carroll is also a pop science article, not a textbook or peer-reviewed paper.

This somewhat more technical paper by Deutsch might be a good starting point for the OP:

https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0104033
 
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