Paradoxes and Primitive Ontology in Collapse Theories of Quantum Mechanics

TL;DR

Collapse theories in quantum mechanics propose real physical wave function collapses governed by precise laws, and introducing a primitive ontology helps resolve certain paradoxes associated with these theories.

Contribution

The paper discusses the role of primitive ontology in collapse theories and argues that including it can eliminate specific paradoxes in these models.

Findings

Introducing primitive ontology removes certain paradoxes

Collapse theories require precise laws for wave function collapse

Primitive ontology clarifies matter representation in space-time

Abstract

Collapse theories are versions of quantum mechanics according to which the collapse of the wave function is a real physical process. They propose precise mathematical laws to govern this process and to replace the vague conventional prescription that a collapse occurs whenever an "observer" makes a "measurement." The "primitive ontology" of a theory (more or less what Bell called the "local beables") are the variables in the theory that represent matter in space-time. There is no consensus about whether collapse theories need to introduce a primitive ontology as part of their definition. I make some remarks on this question and point out that certain paradoxes about collapse theories are absent if a primitive ontology is introduced.