How does Bohmian Mechanics deal with the destruction of....

In summary, Different interpretations of QM are not different theories, but rather just different stories about the same theory, QM. In Bohmian Mechanics, the pilot wave guides particles between measurements and placing detectors at the slits changes the whole system and thus affects how the wave function (pilot wave) evolves. The measuring device changes the phase of the wave function, which causes the interference effects to disappear.
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Nickyv2423
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How does BH deal with the destruction of interference in the double slit experiment when a detector is placed at the slits? If the wave function never collapses, then shouldn't the particle still follow the path? Does the measuring device change the shape of the wave function so that it doesn't interfere with itself?
 
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You've already asked a similar question about the MWI:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...truction-of-interference.903069/#post-5686258

How many more QM interpretations are you going to ask about? We might as well get them all out of the way.

The general answer to questions like this is that all interpretations of QM use the same math and make the same predictions. So asking how any of them "deal with" something is based on what might be called a misconception. Different interpretations of QM are not different theories. They are just different stories that people tell in ordinary language about the same theory, QM.

The story that Bohmian Mechanics tells is that all quantum interference effects come from the pilot wave (which is its term for the wave function), but the pilot wave only "guides" the particles between measurements. Without the detectors, that means the pilot wave guides the particles all through the experiment; but if detectors are placed at the slits, that is no longer true, so the interference effects go away.

Nickyv2423 said:
Does the measuring device change the shape of the wave function so that it doesn't interfere with itself?

The answer to this is the same as it was in the MWI thread. In Bohmian Mechanics, the wave function (pilot wave) applies to the whole system, not to individual particles. Putting detectors at the slits changes the whole system, so it changes how the wave function (pilot wave) evolves.
 
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Nickyv2423 said:
Does the measuring device change the shape of the wave function so that it doesn't interfere with itself?
Loosely speaking, yes. More precisely it is not so much its shape that is changed, but rather its phase. And it does not depend on interpretation.
 
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1. How does Bohmian Mechanics deal with the destruction of particles?

Bohmian Mechanics posits that particles have definite positions and trajectories, and that these are guided by a quantum potential. Therefore, the destruction of particles would simply mean that their trajectories and positions are no longer being guided, but they still exist in some form.

2. How does Bohmian Mechanics explain the collapse of the wavefunction?

In Bohmian Mechanics, the wavefunction does not collapse. Rather, it is always a complete description of the state of the system, and the trajectory of the particle is determined by the initial conditions set by the wavefunction.

3. Does Bohmian Mechanics support the concept of non-locality?

Yes, Bohmian Mechanics does support the concept of non-locality. This means that particles can have an instantaneous influence on each other, regardless of the distance between them.

4. How does Bohmian Mechanics deal with entanglement?

In Bohmian Mechanics, entanglement is explained as a result of the particles having definite positions and trajectories. When particles become entangled, their trajectories become correlated, but they still retain their individuality and do not lose their definite positions.

5. Can Bohmian Mechanics be reconciled with the theory of relativity?

There are ongoing debates about whether Bohmian Mechanics can be reconciled with the theory of relativity. Some argue that the concept of a quantum potential violates the principle of locality in relativity, while others propose modifications to Bohmian Mechanics to make it compatible with relativity.

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