Abstract
While the Phase Space formulation of quantum mechanics has received considerable attention it has seldom been defended as a viable interpretation. In this paper I expound the Phase Space Picture, use it to provide a quasi-classical ‘hidden variables’ interpretation of quantum mechanics and offer a defence of it against various objections.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
REFERENCES
Adelman, M., J. V. Corbett, and C. A. Hurst: 1993, ‘The Geometry of State Space’, Foundations of Physics 23, 211–223.
Bohm, D. and B. J. Hiley.: 1993, The Undivided Universe, Routledge, London.
Cohen, L.: 1966, ‘Can Quantum Mechanics be Formulated as a Classical Probability Theory?’, Philosophy of Science 33, 317–322.
Forrest, P.: 1988, Quantum Metaphysics, Blackwell, Oxford.
Forrest, P.: 1997, ‘Common Sense and a “Wigner-Dirac” Approach to Quantum Mechanics’, The Monist 80.
Gibbins, P. F.: 1983, ‘Quantum Logic and Ensembles’, in Richard Swinburne (ed.), Space, Time and Causality, Reidel, Dordrecht, pp. 191–205.
Hillery, M., R. F. O'Connell, M. O. Scully, and E. P. Wigner: 1984, ‘Distribution Functions in Physics: Fundamentals’, Physics Reports 106, 122–167.
Hughes, R. I. G.: 1989, The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Kim, Y. S. and M. E. Noz: 1991, Phase Space Picture of Quantum Mechanics: Group Theoretical Approach, World Scientific, Singapore.
Kochen, Simon and E. P. Specker: 1967, ‘The Problem of Hidden Variables in Quantum Mechanics’, Journal of Mathematics and Mechanics 17, 59–87.
Wigner, E.: 1932, ‘On the Quantum Correction for Thermodynamic Equilibrium’, Physical Review 40, 749–759; reprinted in Kim and Noz (1991), pp. 219–231.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Forrest, P. In Defence Of The Phase Space Picture. Synthese 119, 299–311 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005105115011
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005105115011
Keywords
- Phase Space
- Pure State
- Real Hilbert Space
- Hide Variable
- Complex Hilbert Space