Jacob Barandes: The Wave Function Does Not Exist (And Never Did)

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Curt Jaimungal

Physics, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2024

⏱️ 135 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jacob Barandes on why the wave function may not be real, and the foundations of quantum mechanics.0:00 Introduction1:26 Jacob's Background7:32 Pursuing Theoretical Physics10:28 Is Consciousness Linked to Quantum Mechanics?16:07 Why the Wave Function Might Not Be Real20:12 The Schrödinger Equation Explained23:04 Higher Dimensions in Quantum Physics30:11 Heisenberg’s Matrix Mechanics35:08 Schrödinger’s Wave Function and Its Implications39:57 Dirac and von Neumann's Quantum Axioms45:09 The Problem with Hilbert Spaces50:02 Wigner's Friend Paradox55:06 Challenges in Defining Measurement in Quantum Mechanics1:00:17 Trying to Simplify Quantum for Students1:03:35 Bridging Quantum Mechanics with Stochastic Processes1:05:05 Discovering Indivisible Stochastic Processes1:12:03 Interference and Coherence Explained1:16:06 Redefining Measurement and Decoherence1:18:01 The Future of Quantum Theory1:24:09 Foundationalism and Quantum Theory1:25:04 Why Use Indivisible Stochastic Laws?1:26:10 The Quantum-Classical Transition1:27:30 Classical vs Quantum Probabilities1:28:36 Hilbert Space and the Convenience of Amplitudes1:30:01 No Special Role for Observers1:33:40 Emergence of the Wave Function1:38:27 Physicists' Reluctance to Change Foundations1:43:04 Resolving Quantum Mechanics' Inconsistencies1:50:46 Practical Applications of Indivisible Stochastic Processes1:57:53 Understanding Particles in the Indivisible Stochastic Model2:00:48 Is There a Fundamental Ontology?2:07:02 Advice for Students Entering Physics2:09:32 Encouragement for Interdisciplinary Research2:12:22 OutroSPONSORS:- I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOERESOURCES:- https://curtjaimungal.substack.com- Wigner's paper 'Remarks on the Mind-Body Question': https://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/wigner/Wigner_Remarks.pdf- Jacob's lecture on Hilbert Spaces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmaSAG4J6nw&ab_channel=OxfordPhilosophyofPhysics- John von Neumann's book on 'Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics': https://amzn.to/48OkeVj- The 1905 Papers (Albert Einstein): https://guides.loc.gov/einstein-annus-mirabilis/1905-papers- Dividing Quantum Channels (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/math-ph/0611057- Sean Carroll on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AoRxtYZrZo- Scott Aaronson and Leonard Susskind's paper on 'Quantum Necromancy': https://arxiv.org/pdf/2009.07450- Scott Aaronson on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZpGCQoL2Rk- Leonard Susskind on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p_Hlm6aCok- Ekkolapto's website: https://www.ekkolapto.org/- Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!)- Listen to TOE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Become a YouTube Member Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join- Join TOE's Newsletter 'TOEmail' at https://www.curtjaimungal.org- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I didn't know it was impossible. So I brought these theories closer and closer together,
0:03.7	expecting that there would be a moment when I would need to make some kind of jump
0:07.9	to get from one theory, classical physics, to the other theory, quantum physics. And the
0:13.6	strangest thing happened. The two cliff faces merged. And there was just no, no chasm anymore.
0:21.9	Today I have a special treat.
0:24.5	I traveled to Harvard University to meet in-person Jacob Barndes, the co-director of
0:30.3	graduate studies in physics and someone making waves at the intersection of fundamental
0:35.0	physics and philosophy.
0:36.9	In his unassuming office, he's been
0:38.8	working on a revolutionary framework that finally explains quantum mechanics. His radical proposal
0:45.5	suggests that there is no fundamental wave function. Hilbert spaces aren't real, and there's no
0:51.3	mysterious quantum realm. It's just a mathematical convenience. It's an impertinence of the theory. and there's no mysterious quantum realm. It's just a mathematical convenience.
0:55.9	It's an impertinence of the theory.
0:57.7	But there is no object in physical reality it's describing.
1:00.7	In this episode, we go in-depth into the picture that resolves the measurement problem, eliminates
1:06.6	the need for multiple worlds, and finally gives a clear view as to what's actually happening
1:12.7	at nature's smallest scales. However, this clarity does come with a price. The question is,
1:20.3	are physicists ready to accept a quantum mechanics without magic? Professor Jacob Berendos, welcome to theories of everything.
1:31.0	I've been following you for some time, following you online in a non-creepy manner.
1:35.7	And we were speaking off-air about physics.
1:39.8	However, you're also the co-director of the graduate studies here,
1:45.0	now physics, and you have an interesting background as to how you came into physics.
	...

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