Quantum Mechanics as Thought Experiment as Hyperreality

Modern physics today faces a credibility crisis from lack of realism introduced 100 years ago in the form  of Standard Quantum Mechanics StdQM described by Schrödinger's equation in terms of a multi-dimensional wave function without real ontological physical meaning, only a statistical epistemological meaning in the mind of an Observer. 

This represents a fundamental break with classical physics, where the Observer has no active role to play. 

For 100 years it has been possible to play a double game shifting between ontology (what is in the real world) and epistemology (what is in the mind of an Observer) to cover up the lack of physical meaning of the multi-d wave function. 

To illustrate this state of affairs, consider a Hydrogen atom with one electron surrounding a proton at $x=0$ with the following wave function depending on a 3d Euclidean space coordinate describing the ground state

• $\psi (x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}}\exp(-\vert x\vert )$. 

StdQM gives the wave function the following interpretation: 

• $\psi^2 (x)$ is the probability of finding the electron at position $x$. 
• $\psi^2 (x)$ is a probability density.
• Here the meaning "of finding" is crucial?
• Is it possible to experimentally "find" an electron at a particular point $x$?
• No, this is impossible because an electron is not a classical particle.
• There is no real experiment expressing "finding an electron a particular point in space".
• The only possibility is to give "finding" the meaning of a thought experiment. 
•  $\psi^2 (x)$ is the probability density of imagining finding an electron at position $x$.  

RealQM as an alternative to StdQM gives a different meaning in terms of classical deterministic physics:

• $\psi^2 (x)$ is an electron charge density in $x$ as real physics. 
• No probability is involved. No need to give $\psi^2 (x)$ any other meaning than charge density.

The argument extends to atoms with more than one electron. For an atom with $N$ electrons, the StdQM wave function $\psi (x_1, x_2,...,x_N)$ depends on $N$ 3d spatial variable $x_1,...,x_N$ and 

• $\psi^2 (x_1,x_2,...,x_N)$ is the probability of finding electron 1 at $x_1$, electron 2 at $x_2$, electron N at $x_N$. 
• This is again only possible as a thought experiment. 

The electron configuration of RealQM is the result of an energy minimisation over non-overlapping one electron charge densities without need of probability.

In short, StdQM is unphysical in the sense of not connecting theory to real experiments, but instead to imagined thought experiments. 

Thought experiments can be illuminating if thoughts can be transformed to reality. If not thought experiments stay in the head of an Observer and the connection to reality is compromised.  This is the case with StdQM and the result after 100 years is a severe crisis of credibility. Sum up:

• Classic: Independent Reality exists outside Observer. Observer is passive. RealQM
• Modern: Observer active. Reality is what goes on in the mind of the Observer. StdQM 

This connects to the idea of hyperreality used by Baudrillard to capture an important aspect of modern digital society: 

• Mathematical model describes reality which exists: RealQM: Classic physics.
• Mathematical model describes a reality which does not exist: StdQM: Hyperreality: Modern Physics