The Relevance of the Preparation Concept in the Interpretation of Quantum Formalism

TL;DR

This paper explores the crucial role of the preparation concept in quantum theory, analyzing its impact on different interpretations and highlighting recent experimental and theoretical developments that favor an epistemic view.

Contribution

It clarifies the conceptual differences between statistical and conventional interpretations by examining preparation procedures and discusses potential future shifts in interpretative dominance.

Findings

Preparation procedures differentiate interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Recent experiments support an epistemic interpretation.

Theoretical developments may alter current interpretative preferences.

Abstract

The preparation procedure, an undefined notion in quantum theory, has not had the relevance that it deserves in the interpretation of quantum mechanical formalism. Here we utilize the concepts of identical and similar preparation procedures to show the conceptual differences and mutual interconnections between the statistical and the conventional interpretation of quantum formalism. Although the statistical understanding, and its final logical consequence, hidden variables theories (this connexion being explained in the text), have a great intuitive appeal due to its fewer ontological difficulties, both recent experimental results and some theoretical developments seem to support an epistemic alternative closer to the conventional one. Nevertheless, we must not rule out the possibility that new theorems or new explanatory principles may modify the reigning supremacy of this interpretation.