Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probability in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Probability in Physics

Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection ((FRONTCOLL))

Abstract

It is argued that, although in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics there is no “probability” for an outcome of a quantum experiment in the usual sense, we can understand why we have an illusion of probability. The explanation involves: (a) A “sleeping pill” gedanken experiment which makes correspondence between an illegitimate question: “What is the probability of an outcome of a quantum measurement?” with a legitimate question: “What is the probability that ‘I’ am in the world corresponding to that outcome?”; (b) A gedanken experiment which splits the world into several worlds which are identical according to some symmetry condition; and (c) Relativistic causality, which together with (b) explain the Born rule of standard quantum mechanics. The Quantum Sleeping Beauty controversy and “caring measure” replacing probability measure are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Vaidman, L.: About Schizophrenic experiences of the neutron or why we should believe in many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory. University of South Carolina Preprint, Columbia, SC.. http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8564/ (1990)

  2. Vaidman, L.: On schizophrenic experiences of the neutron or why we should believe in the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory. Int. Stud. Philos. Sci. 12, 245–261 (1998)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Ghirardi, G.C., Rimini, A., Weber, T.: Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems. Phys. Rev. D 34, 470–491 (1986)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Pearle, P.: Combining stochastic dynamical state-vector reduction with spontaneous localization. Phys. Rev. A 39, 2277–2289 (1989)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bohm, D.: A suggested interpretation of the quantum theory in terms of ‘hidden’ variables, I and II. Phys. Rev. 85, 166–193 (1952)

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Everett III, H.: ‘Relative state’ formulation of quantum mechanics. Rev. Mod. Phys. 29, 454–462 (1957)

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Vaidman, L.: Many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. In: Zalta, E N. (ed.) Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-manyworlds/ (2002)

  8. Quantis, true random number generator exploiting quantum physics. http://www.idquantique.com/true-random-number-generator/products-overview.html/

  9. Tel-Aviv world splitter. http://qol.tau.ac.il/tws.html

  10. Maudlin, T.: Can the world be only wavefunction? In: Saunders, S., Barrett, J., Kent, A., Wallace, D. (eds.) Many Worlds? Everett, Quantum Theory, and Reality, pp. 121–143. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Deutsch, D.: Quantum theory of probability and decisions. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 455, 3129–3137 (1999)

    Article  MATH  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  12. Albert, D.: Probability in the Everett picture. In: Saunders, S., Barrett, J., Kent, A., Wallace, D. (eds.) Many Worlds? Everett, Quantum Theory, and Reality, pp. 355–368. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pitowsky, I.: Betting on the outcomes of measurements: a Bayesian theory of quantum probability. Stud. Hist. Philos. Mod. Phys. 34, 395–414 (2003)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Aharonov, Y., Vaidman, L.: Nonlocal aspects of a quantum wave. Phys. Rev. A 61, 052108 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pitowsky, I., Finetti, D.: Extensions, quantum probability and Gleason’s theorem. In: Hartman, S., Beisbart, C. (eds.) Probability is Physics. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Elga, A.: Self-locating belief and the Sleeping Beauty problem. Analysis 60, 143–147 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Vaidman, L., Saunders, S.: On sleeping beauty controversy. Oxford University Preprint, Oxford. http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/324/ (2001)

  18. Vaidman, L.: Probability and the many worlds interpretation of quantum theory. In: Khrennikov, A. (ed.) Quantum Theory: Reconsideration of Foundations, pp. 407–422. Vaxjo University Press, Sweden (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Groisman, B.: The end of Sleeping Beauty’s nightmare. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 59, 409–416 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  20. Lewis, P.: Quantum Sleeping Beauty. Analysis 67, 59–65 (2007)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. Lewis, P.: Reply to Papineau and Dura-Vila. Analysis 69, 86–89 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  22. Bradley, D.J.: Confirmation in a branching world: the Everett interpretation and Sleeping Beauty. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 62, 323–342 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Papineau, D., Dura-Vila, V.: A thirder and an Everettian: a reply to Lewis’s ‘Quantum Sleeping Beauty’. Analysis 69, 78–86 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  24. Saunders, S.: Time, quantum mechanics, and probability. Synthese 114, 373–404 (1998)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  25. Wallace, D.: Epistemology quantized: circumstances in which we should come to believe in the everett interpretation. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 57, 655–689 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  26. Peterson, D.: Qeauty and the books: a response to Lewis’s quantum Sleeping Beauty problem. Synthese 181, 367–374 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bertrand, J.: Calcul des probabilités. Gauthier-Villars et fils, Paris (1889)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Lewis, P.: What is it like to be Schrödinger’s cat? Analysis 60, 22–29 (2000)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  29. Greaves, H.: Understanding Deutsch’s probability in a deterministic multiverse. Stud. Hist. Philos. Mod. Phys. 35, 423–456 (2004)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  30. Tappenden, P.: Evidence and uncertainty in Everett’s multiverse. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 62, 99–123 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  31. Greaves, H., Myrvold, W.: Everett and evidence. In: Saunders, S., Barrett, J., Kent, A., Wallace, D. (eds.) Many Worlds? Everett, Quantum Theory, and Reality, pp. 264–307. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Hemmo, M., Pitowsky, I.: Quantum probability and many worlds. Stud. Hist. Philos. Mod. Phys. 38, 333–350 (2007)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  33. Hemmo, M., Pitowsky, I.: Probability and nonlocality in many minds interpretations of quantum mechanics. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 54, 225–243 (2003)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Lev Vaidman

Authors
  1. Lev Vaidman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lev Vaidman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Philosophy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    Yemima Ben-Menahem

  2. Dept. Philosophy, University of Haifa, Haifa, 31905, Israel

    Meir Hemmo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Vaidman, L. (2012). Probability in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. In: Ben-Menahem, Y., Hemmo, M. (eds) Probability in Physics. The Frontiers Collection. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21329-8_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21329-8_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-21328-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-21329-8

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation