The Montevideo Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
This new interpretation of quantum mechanics solves the problems of the use of environmental decoherence as a solution to the problem of measurement in quantum mechanics. It does so invoking fundamental limitations in the process of measurement in quantum mechanics including those due to gravity. These limitations are very natural in the context of generally covariant theories as quantum gravity.
Popular article about the interpretation from newspaper "La Diaria" Spanish, English.
Renowned Cambridge philosopher Jeremy Butterfield evaluates the Montevideo Interpretation of quantum mechanics. Read it for free on the arXiv.
New! An up to date brief review of the Montevideo Interpretation.
The papers:
More detail on how we solve the "problem of outcomes" (which Bell called the "and-or" problem) of when an event takes place in quantum mechanics is discussed in:
Why the definition of event we consider is not "for all practical purposes" (FAPP) is discussed at:
The Montevideo interpretation's use of real clocks meshes very naturally with the solution of the "problem of time" that arises in background-independent theories like general relatiivity. The solution of that problem is discussed in:
If you found the previous paper too technical, here is a pedagogical version: Fundamental decoherence from quantum gravity: A Pedagogical review R. Gambini, R. Porto, J. Pullin.
In many presentations we focus on the role of real clocks in the interpretation and the fact that things can be formulated covariantly is not emphasized.
One has similar effects stemming from the use of real rod to measure spatial distances:
The loss of coherence that is central to the Montevideo interpretation interestingly provides a fundamental limitation to the speed of quantum computers:
and also may provide a solution to the black hole information paradox:
The new interpretation may open new vistas in philosophical problems, for instance the issue of emergence:
A quantum ontology based on events:
Maintained by Jorge Pullin
Supported by the National Science Foundation
and the John Templeton Foundation