English

A symmetry problem in the Copenhagen interpretation

Quantum Physics 2009-09-02 v1 History and Philosophy of Physics

Abstract

A non-uniqueness result for the canonical structure in quantum theory shows that the classical part of the Copenhagen interpretation contains physically important information not contained in its quantum part. As a consequence, we cannot compute the symmetry group of a quantum theory considering only the quantum part. The unavoidable vagueness of the classical part therefore leads to a similar vagueness in the definition of the symmetry group. This makes it at least problematic, if not impossible, to establish the true symmetry group of a quantum theory in the Copenhagen interpretation. Different from the old measurement problem, the symmetry group is to important physically to be rejected as a metaphysical pseudoproblem.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0909.0175,
  title  = {A symmetry problem in the Copenhagen interpretation},
  author = {I. Schmelzer},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0909.0175},
  year   = {2009}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-21T13:41:09.095Z