“Shut Up and Calculate!”
Some physicists talk of the “shut up and calculate interpretation”: ignore the philosophical puzzle of how the classical and the quantum coexist and use the Schrödinger equation (and all the subsequent mathematical developments of quantum theory) to compute quantities of practical interest. These include energy levels of atoms; predictions for particle collider experiments; the properties of semiconductors, superconductors and other materials; and so on. It is all that most physicists ever need.
Transactional Interpretation
This interpretation has waves traveling forward and backward in time, setting up standing waves, for example between an emitter of a particle and its subsequent detector. It was proposed by John G. Cramer (physicist and science fiction author) in 1986 and claimed by him to provide insight into puzzles such as wave function collapse and the Schrödinger’s cat experiment. These insights have led Cramer to pursue an experiment to try to demonstrate the sending of signals backward in time (which most quantum physicists will tell you is impossible if standard quantum mechanics is correct).
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1 Comments
Add CommentAfter reading this article I am not surprised to find that I'm a 'shut up & calculate' Everittian. There is too much philosophy & metaphysics in the sciences as it is. I will agree it may stimulate thinking in those that need such dribble to be motivated but it often detracts from getting real results of any utility beyond pseudo-intellectualism to prove to oneself how clever they believe they are.
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