A snapshot of foundational attitudes toward quantum mechanics

Foundational investigations in quantum mechanics, both experimental and theoretical, gave birth to the field of quantum information science. Nevertheless, the foundations of quantum mechanics themselves remain hotly debated in the scientific community, and no consensus on essential questions has been reached. Here, we present the results of a poll carried out among 33 participants of a conference on the foundations of quantum mechanics. The participants completed a questionnaire containing 16 multiple-choice questions probing opinions on quantum-foundational issues. Participants included physicists, philosophers, and mathematicians. We describe our findings, identify commonly held views, and determine strong, medium, and weak correlations between the answers. Our study provides a unique snapshot of current views in the field of quantum foundations, as well as an analysis of the relationships between these views.

• We present the results of a poll on the foundations of quantum mechanics.
• The 33 respondents sharply disagree on several fundamental questions.
• Majority views include randomness in nature and the importance of quantum information.
• We identify the correlations between different views.
• Despite new developments, the interpretation of the theory remains controversial.