Relativistic dynamical reduction models: an overview of the latest results (T. Guaita)

  • Date: Dec 21, 2017
  • Time: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
  • Speaker: Tommaso Guaita
  • Department of Physics, University of Milan, Italy
  • Room: Seminar room Theory Division - B 2.46
  • Host: MPQ, Theory Division
The dynamical reduction program is an attempt to modify the laws of quantum mechanics in order to solve the measurement and macro-objectification problems.

Indeed, through stochastic and non-linear corrections to the standard quantum mechanical evolution equations, it is possible to produce models that include a transition to classical behaviour for macroscopic bodies and that, in measurement-like situations, contain the wavefunction reduction process in a natural way. The models proposed so far do this successfully for non-relativistic theories. However, developing a consistent relativistic dynamical reduction model has proven to be problematic. In this talk I will analyse some of the ideas proposed in recent years to solve such problem. Firstly, I will show, through numerical calculations, that a relativistic model due to Tumulka can indeed be used to describe a single massive particle obtaining a behaviour that is in good approximation consistent. It however fails to do so if applied to multiple identical particles. A second promising approach is to use a non-standard mediating quantum field introduced by Bedingham and Pearle. I will discuss the implications and the open questions deriving from the use of such field.


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