Critical Assessment of Wave-Particle Complementarity via Derivation from Quantum Mechanics

TL;DR

This paper derives an extended wave-particle complementarity principle from quantum mechanics, critically evaluates its reflection of reality, and discusses Bohr's approach with a skeptical perspective.

Contribution

It provides a derivation of an extended complementarity principle from standard quantum mechanics and critically assesses its philosophical and physical implications.

Findings

The extended complementarity principle can be derived from quantum mechanics.

The reality-evaluation of the derivation is largely negative.

Bohr's approach is critiqued as dogmatic and not fully reflective of reality.

Abstract

After introducing sketchily Bohr's wave-particle complementarity principle in his own words, a derivation of an extended form of the principle from standard quantum mechanics is performed. Reality-evaluation of each step is given. The derived theory is applied to simple examples and the extended entities are illustrated in a thought experiment. Assessment of the approach of Bohr and of this article is taken up again with a rather negative conclusion as far as reflecting reality is concerned. The paper ends with selected incisive opinions on Bohr's dogmatic attitude and with some comments by the present author.