Foundations and Interpretation of Quantum Theory (Winter 2010)
| Code: AMATH 900/AMATH 495/PHYS 490 | Semester/Year Offered: Winter 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Instructors:Joseph Emerson and Raymond Laflamme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: PI and RAC | Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-3:50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calendar Description: Lecture times and locations: Tuesdays 2:30-3:50 p.m. at Perimeter Institute, Bob Room, Thursdays 2:30-3:50 p.m. at RAC 2009 First lecture: Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Prerequisite: For undergraduates: permission of the instructor, or AMATH 473/PHYS 454. There are no prerequisites for graduate students. Motivation: From a practical point of view, quantum theory has been an enormously successful theory. It correctly predicts both non-relativistic and relativistic phenomena to extraordinary precision and has driven major technological developments such as the laser, superconductivity and micro-circuitry. More recently, we have seen the coherence and entanglement of single quantum systems veri ed routinely in todays labs and these distinctive quantum phenomena are now being directly exploited as the basis for emerging quantum technologies. And yet, in spite of these successes, there are questions and controversy surrounding very basic issues about the physical nature of the theory. While such questions are sometimes dismissed as mere philosophy, the study of these foundational issues has played a critical role in conceptual breakthroughs in areas ranging from quantum computation and quantum cryptography to the nature of quantum chaos and the quantum-classical transition. Description: After a review of the axiomatic formulation of quantum theory, the generalized operational structure of the theory will be introduced (including POVM measurements, sequential measurements, and CP maps). There will be an introduction to the orthodox (sometimes called Copenhagen) interpretation of quantum mechanics and the historical problems/issues/debates regarding that interpretation, in particular, the measurement problem and the EPR paradox, and a discussion of contemporary views on these topics. The majority of the course lectures will consist of guest lectures from international experts covering the various approaches to the interpretation of quantum theory (in particular, many-worlds, de Broglie-Bohm, consistent/decoherent histories, and statistical/epistemic interpretations, as time permits) and fundamental properties and tests of quantum theory (such as entanglement and experimental tests of Bell inequalities, contextuality, macroscopic quantum phenomena, and the problem of quantum gravity, as time permits). Video lectures and lecture notes from the previous course offering are available here. Schedule:
Transportation: Shuttle transportation to/from PI and RAC is available as follows. Priority will be given to students registered in the course. Pick up at EIT will be at the entrace facing DC. The shuttle driver can be reached at the following number: 519-572-4198. Tuesdays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lectures:
| Topic | Hours | Notes |
Axioms for quantum mechanics | 6 | QFI Lectures 1 and 2 - Axioms.pdf |
Historical Perspectives | 6 | QFI Lectures 3 and 4 - Historical Perspectives.pdf |
Assignment 1 | 0 | Assignment 1.pdf |
Hidden Variables and their Constraints | 6 | QFI Lecture 5 - Hidden variables and their contraints.pdf |
Probability and its interpretation | 6 | |
Experimental Tests of Bell's Inequality (I) | 3 | Foundations Course Weihs 1.pdf |
Experimental Tests of Bell's Inequality (II) | 3 | Foundations Course Weihs 2.pdf |
Convex sets framework for probabilistic theories | 6 | |
deBroglie-Bohm Interpretation (I) | 3 | RT lecture1.pdf |
deBroglie-Bohm interpretation (II) | 3 | RT lecture2.pdf |
Quantum Bayesian View Reading | 0 | Big QBism.pdf |
Quantum Bayesian View | 6 | Big QBism.pdf |
The many-worlds interpretation | 6 | |
Fundamental tests of quantum mechanics | 6 | |
Macroscopic quantum coherence | 6 |
Share
