The Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics is Fatally Flawed

TL;DR

This paper argues that the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is fundamentally flawed because its linear mathematics cannot explain the probability law, requiring additional mechanisms like collapse or hidden variables.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that the linear mathematics of the many-worlds interpretation cannot account for quantum probabilities, challenging its viability.

Findings

Linear quantum mechanics cannot derive the probability law.

The many-worlds interpretation is incompatible with observed probabilities.

Additional mechanisms are necessary for a complete quantum theory.

Abstract

The linear mathematics of quantum mechanics gives many versions of reality instead of the single version we perceive, with the perceived version chosen at random according to a probability law. Because of these peculiarities, the theory requires an interpretation to be fully understood. Over 50 years ago, Everett proposed in his many-worlds interpretation that these characteristics could be accounted for if the mathematics itself, with no collapse or hidden variables, was carefully analyzed. We show this is incorrect; the linear mathematics cannot account for the probability law. Thus the many-worlds interpretation is not viable. Some mechanism, such as collapse or hidden variables, must be added to obtain a satisfactory understanding of the physical universe.