24.111: Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Spring 2016

Instructor: Brad Skow.
Meetings: MW, 12:30-2; room 32-144.
Course Description:   What is the world like, according to quantum mechanics? We will try to figure out the answer.
Laptop policy:No laptops, smartphones, tablets, phablets, netbooks, surfaces, desktop computers, apple TVs, mainframes, athena clusters, etc may be used in class, unless you have a special reason for needing them (if you do please see me).
Assessment:Homework assignments, 20%; midterm, 40%; final exam, 40%. All homeworks have equal weight. The final exam will have no questions about non-locality.
Homework Policies:You may work on homework assignments with other students, but your write-up must be your own. Unless the assignment says otherwise, all homework submissions must be typed. Late work will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse. If you are having personal or academic problems that make it hard for you to keep up with the class, the first thing you should do is contact s-cubed. (An excuse for work that is more than a few days late is legitimate only if accompanied by a message from a dean at s-cubed.)
Homework:hw1.  hw2.  hw3.  hw4.  hw5.  hw6.  hw7.  hw8 due in class Monday 5/2.
Solutions:hw2 solutions. hw3 solutions. hw 4 solutions. hw 5 solutions. hw 6 solutions. hw 7 solutions. hw 8 solutions.
Practice Final:HERE! notes on preparing for the final.

Schedule

Note on readings: Readings marked with a * will be discussed in some detail in class. You should print them out, read them ahead of time, and bring them to class. Other readings are there to supplement stuff I cover in lecture. I gave out information on how to get the readings on the first day of class.

Mathematical and Physical Background

Date       Topic                                                                      Assignments
2/3 WHow is quantum mechanics different from classical        
mechanics?
HW1 due noon on 2/7.
2/8 M The quantum mechanics of spin-1/2 particles.
The Stern-Gerlach Experiment.
Albert, chs 1-2.
Linear algebra notes.
Hughes, The Stern-Gerlach Experiment.
Maudlin, Overview of QM.
Slides form class.
2/10 WThe quantum-mechanical statistical algorithm.
The two-path experiment.
*Handout on the statistical algorithm.
2/16 TReview of linear algebra*Linear algebra notes.
Hughes, Vector Spaces.
2/17 WThe orthodox interpretation.Homework 2 due in class.
*Handout on the "orthodox" interpretation.
2/22 MThe uncertainty principle.


Non-Locality

2/24 W      "The Orthodox Interpretation is weird; why believe it?"
The EPR Argument against the Orthodox Interpretation.                        
*EPR, Can Quantum-Mechanical....
*Einstein, Quantum Mechanics and Reality.
*EPR handout.
Homework 3 due in class.
2/29 MArguments.
Bohr's reply to EPR.
A start on Bell's Theorem, and its interpretation.
*Bohr, Can Quantum-Mechanical....
Mermin, Quantum Mysteries for Anyone.
Albert, ch. 3.
slides from lecture.
3/2 WProof of Bell's Theorem, concluded; Bell's Theorem and action at a distance.slides from lecture.
Homework 4 due in class.
3/7 MThe efficiency loophole; the conspiracy loophole.Maudlin, Ch 6; Bell exchange.


The Measurement Problem

3/9 W            Motivating Collapse Theories; Schrodinger's Cat.                                                      *Maudlin, Three Measurement Problems, "PROBLEM 1."
*Schrodinger, "The Present Situation in Quantum Mechanics," sect. 5.
*Bell, Against 'Measurement,' to 217.
Homework 5 due in class.
3/14 MMidterm review session. (I'll be there to answer questions, not to give a prepared lecture.)Notes on midterm preparation.
3/16 WMidterm exam.
 
Spring Break
 
3/28 MCan We Experimentally Determine When Collapse Occurs?Albert, ch 4, especially pages 84-92.
3/30 WClass canceled due to baby.
4/4 MExperiments, continued;
GRW: the easy version.
*GRW handout.
Albert, ch5.
4/6 WGRW, continued; the John argument.*Albert, ch 5, pp. 100-111.
4/11 MGRW: the true version.
The problem of tails; the fuzzy link.
*Albert and Loewer, Tails of Schrodinger's Cat.
4/13 WBohmian Mechanics.Albert, ch 7.
HW6 due in class.
4/18 MBOSTON MARATHON DAY; no class.
4/20 WBohmian Mechanics.slides from class.
4/25 MThe Bohmian Mechanics of many particles;
"If they make the same predictions, how could our evidence ever favor one over the other?"
*A dialogue on QM.
HW7 due in class.
Note on preparing for this class.
4/27 W"If they make the same predictions, how could our evidence ever favor one over the other?"
5/2 MMany Worlds.HW8 due in class.
5/4 WMany Worlds.
5/9 M#TeamQM debate.
5/11 WAmazing, Mind-Blowing, Inspiring Final Lecture.
 
5/17 TFinal Exam: 9am-12pm


Brad Skow | MIT