What are current Physicists' general positions on the Copenhagen Interpretation?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the current opinions of physicists regarding the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, originally proposed by Bohr and Heisenberg. Participants explore the consensus, validity, and evolving understanding of this interpretation in light of modern developments in quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that there is no consensus among physicists regarding any interpretation of quantum mechanics, including the Copenhagen interpretation.
  • Others suggest that while a Copenhagen-like operational interpretation is accepted for practical purposes, it is acknowledged to have a "measurement problem" that complicates its acceptance.
  • One participant notes that the majority of physicists do not prioritize interpretations of quantum mechanics, as evidenced by the low number of articles published on the topic compared to the overall volume of research.
  • There is a suggestion that the term "Copenhagen interpretation" has evolved over time and does not strictly refer to the original views of Bohr and Heisenberg, as modern developments like decoherence have influenced its interpretation.
  • A recommendation for further reading includes a book that discusses the interpretation and its implications, indicating that there are resources available for those seeking to understand the topic better.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there is no consensus on the Copenhagen interpretation among physicists, and multiple competing views remain regarding its validity and relevance in contemporary quantum mechanics.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight that the term "Copenhagen interpretation" encompasses a range of loosely related ideas rather than a single, rigorously defined concept, which complicates discussions about its validity and acceptance.

LCSphysicist
Messages
644
Reaction score
163
TL;DR
What is the general position of current physicist about the Copenhagen interpretation?
Actually, is not a doubt as a question, in which there is wrong or right. I just want to update myself with respect to the current physicists opinion about the Copenhagen interpretation of Bohr and Heisenberg. Summarizing, there is a consensus among the majority? In another words, there is still a discussion about the validity of this interpretation?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
LCSphysicist said:
there is a consensus among the majority?

There is no consensus about any QM interpretation. None of them is generally accepted by physicists as the "correct" one.

LCSphysicist said:
there is still a discussion about the validity of this interpretation?

There is still discussion about the validity of all QM interpretations.
 
  • Wow
Likes   Reactions: LCSphysicist
The general view is to accept a Copenhagen-like operational interpretation of quantum mechanics as correct for all practical purposes. For example, the quantum mechanics textbooks of Landau and Lifshitz, Messiah, and Weinberg explicitly say that they use Copenhagen. The book "Operational Quantum Mechanics" by Paul Busch, Marian Grabowski and Pekka Lahti also states the operational viewpoint in its title.

At the same time, it is recognized by many that this orthodox interpretation has a "measurement problem" as it is gives special status to "measurements".
https://www.tau.ac.il/~quantum/Vaidman/IQM/BellAM.pdf
https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0209123
https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.0149
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: Minnesota Joe, Demystifier, PeroK and 1 other person
LCSphysicist said:
Summary:: Summarizing, there is a consensus among the majority?

Yes, but you're not going to like it. The consensus is not to worry too much about interpretations.

Every month there are maybe 1000-1500 articles in Phys Rev. (A, B, C...etc) This month, the number of papers that could possibly fall into the category of "interpretations" is...<drum roll, please>...one.
 
  • Love
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: weirdoguy, vanhees71 and LCSphysicist
Well... yes. In its minimalist operational form, it makes no claims about reality, so it carries no excess "baggage" like many other interpretations.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ojitojuntos
LCSphysicist said:
I just want to update myself with respect to the current physicists opinion about the Copenhagen interpretation of Bohr and Heisenberg.
Note that when physicists use the term "Copenhagen interpretation" they are not necessarily talking about the actual historical position of Bohr or Heisenberg. The term has come to mean different loosely related ideas over time because there aren't any gold standard publications by the founders which rigorously define it. Also Bohr and Heisenberg haven't witnessed modern developments of QM (like decoherence). Attempts to connect the actual historical positions with modern QM aren't numerous (for an exception see Schlosshauer and Camilleri - The quantum-to-classical transition: Bohr’s doctrine of classical concepts, emergent classicality, and decoherence).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
  • · Replies 376 ·
13
Replies
376
Views
24K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
  • · Replies 139 ·
5
Replies
139
Views
3K
Replies
25
Views
6K
  • Sticky
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
7K
  • · Replies 179 ·
6
Replies
179
Views
15K
  • · Replies 115 ·
4
Replies
115
Views
15K