Does string theory explain wavefunction collapse?

[NeutronStar]

Does string theory provide an explanation for the collapse of the wave function in QM?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

 

[Berislav]

I don't think so. Basic string theory assumes that elementary quantum formalism is fundamental.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Right. String theory doesn't go any deeper in explanation than was previously worked out. One thing that they have though is that they only do on-shell calculations. This means they don't have "virtual strings" in their theory.

 

[NeutronStar]

Thank you gentlemen,

I didn't think it offered an explanation but I just wanted to check to be sure.

 

[Demystifier]

See however
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0512186

 

[selfAdjoint]

Demystifier, you are a tireless advicate for Bohmian approaches. These were formerly a no-no here, but have come to be accepted as variants within the pale. Nevertheless, jogging our elbows on every possible occasion with "check out the Bohmian view" gets pretty old. Just a rant, not really a rejection.

 

[josh1]

It's possible that string theory may eventually have something to say about how the cosmological wavefunction collapses.

 

[Chronos]

I too am uncomfortable with the Bohm approach. The wave function collapse, at least in my mind, is a useful analogy - not unlike the rubber sheet in GR. I doubt it is physically meaningful.

 

[Demystifier]

Demystifier, you are a tireless advicate for Bohmian approaches. These were formerly a no-no here, but have come to be accepted as variants within the pale. Nevertheless, jogging our elbows on every possible occasion with "check out the Bohmian view" gets pretty old. Just a rant, not really a rejection.

I just want to draw the physicists attention to the possibility that there is more about the Bohmian approach than they think. If LQG people and string people can advertise their approaches, I do not see a reason why Bohmian people could not do the same thing. Moreover, as the Bohmian approach is not that established as LQG and string theory, the bohmians are forced to be more aggresive in their advertisement if they want to become competitive.

 

[Demystifier]

I too am uncomfortable with the Bohm approach. The wave function collapse, at least in my mind, is a useful analogy - not unlike the rubber sheet in GR. I doubt it is physically meaningful.

Well, the Bohmian interpretation says that there is NO true wave-function collapse. So, why exactly are you uncomfortable with the Bohm approach?