Quantum Physics as HyperReality = Crisis

Modern physics as Quantum Mechanics QM is based on a (complex-valued) wave function $\Psi (X)$ depending on a $3N$-dimensional configuration space coordinate $X$ for an atomic system with $N$ electrons giving each electron a separate 3d Euclidean space. 

Configuration space is a mathematical construct which does not have any physical representation for $N>1$. The wave function as a function defined on configuration space shares the same lack of physical representation. The wave function evolves in time as a mathematical construct satisfying a Schrödinger equation. 

To give QM a meaning beyond a mathematical game it is necessary to give the wave function a physical meaning, which has drawn much attention without any common view ever being formed. The credibility of modern physics has suffered from this failure and can be seen as the main reason for its present commonly witnessed crisis, which can be summarised as follows: 

• classical physics = mathematical model with physical origin.   
• quantum physics = mathematical model without physical origin.     

To handle the lack of physical origin in quantum physics, the logic has been twisted by turning the mathematical model into a new form of reality, which then perfectly fits the model. This connects to the French philosopher Baudrillard's concept of hyperreality as imagined reality formed from a model without origin, when the model is turned into real. 

That this is what de facto happened in quantum physics, is evidenced by the fact that quantum model predictions always perfectly match (imagined) reality.  

We can summarise (see also this post and this post):

• classical physics: reality is turned into mathematical model
• quantum physics: mathematical model is turned into hyperreality.

There is a further complication coming from the lack of physical origin/representation of the wave function, namely the conceptual understanding of a mathematical model without origin in some physics connecting to our experience as human beings. In short, how can we capture in our minds a wave-function defined over a $3N$-dimensional configuration space, when our experience is 3d?

The modern quantum physicist thus has to struggle with an imagined reality represented by a mathematical model without real origin as support for imagination. How to imagine a reality when the imagination has nothing relevant to feed from?

There is a way out of this dilemma: Start with RealQM as a quantum model with real origin. 

Recall that we can understand forms of virtual reality without origin but only so far the virtual reality is based on concepts of reality. If the virtual reality displays 6 space dimensions, then we will not be able to properly understand (only pretend to).

Baudrillard uses Disney World as a form of hyperreality as a model of an American society which has never existed, thus without true origin, but yet formed in familiar terms we can understand.   

Modern Physics: Imagination = Reality: Hyperreality

Modern physics started in 1900 with Planck's mathematical "trick" of imagining a "smallest quantum of energy" to derive Planck's Law of blackbody radiation about an imagined "empty cavity" filled with "degrees of freedom". 

Einstein followed up in 1905 imagining himself riding on a wave of light at the speed of light, or watching a train pass a station with half the speed of light. 

The imagination expanded in 1926 into describing a World filled with "particles" by a complex-valued  "wave function" $\Psi (X,t)$ with "coordinates" $X$ ranging over a "configuration space" with a separate 3d Euclidean space coordinate identifying the position at time $t$ of each "particle" of the World. 

The wave function $\Psi (X,t)$ was viewed to carry "all there is to know" about the World however in a cryptic form which needed unwinding to make sense. 

The evolution in time of $Psi (X,t)$ as function of $X$ was given as solution to a Schrödinger equation. This was the birth of Quantum Mechanics as the foundation of modern physics.

Key question: What is the physical meaning of the wave function $\Psi(X,t)$ with $X$ ranging over configuration space? 

In 1927 Max Born suggested:

• $\vert\Psi (X,t)\vert^2$ is the probability that the particle configuration of World at time $t$ is given by $X$. 
• $\Psi (X,t)$ does not describe an actual configuration $X$ but only a possible configuration. 

This was quickly accepted because it appeared as the only possibility, which decided the path of modern physics to follow. 

The step from actual to possible configuration was a step from firm classical ground into something completely different. A grandiose step worthy a modern physicist. 

Classical physics seeks to describe the actual evolution in time of a physical system from some given initial state typically by time-stepping computational procedure. For each given initial state a final state is computed. But it is out of question to consider all possible initial states because it requires infinite computational work. 

But going from actual to possible as in QM involves all initial values, which means the $\Psi (X,t)$ with $X$ ranging over configuration space is uncomputable. This means that the goal of describing the World by a wave function $\Psi (X,t)$ cannot be reached because the required computational work cannot be created.

How are modern physicists handling the impossible situation they have created? 

The only possibility appears to be to give up the classical physics distinction between a World of specific real configurations evolving in time by some form of computation, and a Mind of an Observer which follows  the evolution but is also free to invent whatever comes to mind. By replacing computable by "thinkable" it is thus possible to let the Mind of an Observer be part of the World and so get around limitations of reality.

Does it work? What happens if we give up the distinction between observer and observed, or painter and model as depicted by Picasso? 

It opens to self-interaction which is a delicate subject. Is imagined reality also reality? A classical physicist would say no, and a modern yes while having to deal with the infinities of QED.

Baudrillard describes imagined reality conceived as reality as hyperreality as an (potentially dangerous)  aspect of modern society. It seems that QM is concerned with hyperreality rather than reality. See next post.