Since its inception, the many counter-intuitive aspects and results of quantum mechanics have provoked strong philosophical debates and many interpretations. Even fundamental issues, such as Max Born's basic rules concerning probability amplitudes and probability distributions took decades to be appreciated by society and many leading scientists. Richard Feynman once said, "I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics." According to Steven Weinberg, "There is now in my opinion no entirely satisfactory interpretation of quantum mechanics."
The Copenhagen interpretation - due largely to the Danish theoretical physicist Niels Bohr - remains the quantum mechanical formalism that is currently most widely accepted amongst physicists, some 75 years after its enunciation. According to this interpretation, the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics is not a temporary feature that will eventually be replaced by a deterministic theory, but instead a final renunciation of the classical idea of "causality". It is also believed therein that any well-defined application of the quantum mechanical formalism must always make reference to the experimental arrangement, due to the complementarity nature of evidence obtained under different experimental situations.
Albert Einstein, himself one of the founders of quantum theory, disliked this loss of determinism in measurement. Einstein held that there should be a local hidden variable theory underlying quantum mechanics and, consequently, that the present theory was incomplete. He produced a series of objections to the theory, the most famous of which has become known as the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox. John Bell showed that this "EPR" paradox led to experimentally testable differences between quantum mechanics and local realistic theories. Experiments have been performed confirming the accuracy of quantum mechanics, thereby demonstrating that the physical world cannot be described by any local realistic theory. The Bohr-Einstein debates provide a vibrant critique of the Copenhagen Interpretation from an epistemological point of view.
1. The author uses the quotations at the end of the first paragraph in order to:
A. show how strong the philosophical debates over quantum mechanics have been.
B. highlight the complexity of quantum mechanics and its various interpretations.
C. emphasize how difficult it was for scientists to understand the rules of Max Born.
D. introduce the Copenhagen interpretation and its complexities.
E. support one particular viewpoint regarding the interpretation of quantum mechanics.
2. The primary purpose of this passage is to:
A. make the case that the Copenhagen interpretation is the most plausible formalism of quantum mechanics.
B. show that Albert Einstein was incorrect in his critique of the Copenhagen interpretation.
C. highlight the complexities of quantum mechanics by examining the history of one interpretation.
D. examine Max Born's basic rules concerning probability amplitudes and probability distributions.
E. summarize the debate that occurred between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein over quantum mechanics.
3. Which of the following can be inferred about the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics?
A. It views the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics as temporary.
B. It involves some loss of determinism in measurement.
C. It was widely accepted when it was enunciated 75 years ago.
D. It views the experimental arrangement as unimportant.
E. It rejected many of Albert Einstein’s views and theories.