A puzzle for the field ontologists

TL;DR

This paper challenges the traditional field interpretation of the wave function in quantum mechanics, highlighting a puzzle related to self-interactions, and proposes a particle-based ontological view as a solution.

Contribution

It presents a new analysis of the wave function's ontology, identifying a puzzle about self-interactions, and advocates for a particle ontological interpretation as a resolution.

Findings

Identifies a puzzle regarding the non-existence of self-interactions in electron fields.

Critiques existing field ontological solutions as unsatisfactory.

Proposes a particle ontology interpretation of the wave function.

Abstract

It has been widely thought that the wave function describes a real, physical field in a realist interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this paper, I present a new analysis of the field ontology for the wave function. First, I argue that the non-existence of self-interactions for a quantum system such as an electron poses a puzzle for the field ontologists. If the wave function represents a physical field, then it seems odd that there are (electromagnetic and gravitational) interactions between the fields of two electrons but no interactions between two parts of the field of an electron. Next, I argue that the three solutions a field ontologist may provide are not fully satisfactory. Finally, I propose a solution of this puzzle that leads to a particle ontological interpretation of the wave function.