Reality as a Vector in Hilbert Space
Quantum Physics
2021-03-18 v1 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Theory
History and Philosophy of Physics
Abstract
I defend the extremist position that the fundamental ontology of the world consists of a vector in Hilbert space evolving according to the Schr\"odinger equation. The laws of physics are determined solely by the energy eigenspectrum of the Hamiltonian. The structure of our observed world, including space and fields living within it, should arise as a higher-level emergent description. I sketch how this might come about, although much work remains to be done.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2103.09780,
title = {Reality as a Vector in Hilbert Space},
author = {Sean M. Carroll},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.09780},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
Invited contribution to the volume Quantum Mechanics and Fundamentality: Naturalizing Quantum Theory Between Scientific Realism and Ontological Indeterminacy; Valia Allori (ed.)