Pilot Wave Theory and Quantum Realism | Space Time | PBS Digital Studios

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There’s one interpretation of the meaning of quantum mechanics that manages to skip a lot of the unphysical weirdness of the mainstream interpretations: it's de Broglie-Bohm pilot wave theory.

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There are some pretty out-there explanations for the processes at work behind the incredibly successful mathematics of quantum mechanics - things are both waves and particles at the same time, the act of observation defines reality, cats are alive and dead, or even: the universe is constantly splitting into infinite alternate realities. The weird results of quantum experiments seem to demand weird explanations of the nature of reality. In this episode, Matt discusses de Broglie-Bohm pilot wave theory, the one interpretation of quantum mechanics that remains comfortably, stodgily physical.

Links to Sources

The Quantum Experiment that Broke Reality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-MNSLsjjdo&t=53s

The Many Worlds of the Quantum Multiverse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzKWfw68M5U&t=690s

Is This What Quantum Mechanics Looks Like?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIyTZDHuarQ

A Suggested Interpretation of the Quantum Theory in Terms of "Hidden" Variables. I:
David Bohm, 1952, Phys. Rev. 85, 166
http://journals.aps.org/pr/abstract/10.1103/PhysRev.85.166

Bohms original paper is behind the journal paywall (sorry!), however many other readings on Bohmian mechanics are available here:
http://www.bohmian-mechanics.net/readings_books.html

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Written and hosted by Matt O’Dowd
Produced by Rusty Ward
Made by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)

Comments Answered by Matt

Burak Bağdatlı
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Sebastián López
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The757packerfan
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