22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Searching for a Deterministic Universe
David A. Kiblinger
Dr. Matthew M. Beaky, Faculty Mentor
Quantum mechanics was one of the greatest products of twentieth-century physics. As a theory, it has been immensely successful for decades; however, the philosophical interpretation of quantum mechanics is still a matter of debate. In particular, quantum mechanics is a nonlocal theory, implying that two events whose separation in spacetime prohibits information exchange between them can still be correlated in some way. This result has forced a reconsideration of the classical notion of causality. The most popular interpretations historically have denied causality and given a picture of an indeterminate universe, but several recent attempts have been made to revive deterministic interpretations. A survey of these recent attempts to rescue causality in quantum mechanics is presented in order to illuminate their common themes.
Keywords: quantum mechanics, causality, entanglement, philosophy of science
Topic(s):Physics
Philosophy & Religion
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 9-4
Location: VH 1412
Time: 9:00