Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9742857 | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
In Bohmian mechanics elementary particles exist objectively, as point particles moving according to a law determined by a wavefunction. In this context, questions as to whether the particles of a certain species are real-questions such as, Do photons exist? Electrons? Or just the quarks?-have a clear meaning. We explain that, whatever the answer, there is a corresponding Bohm-type theory, and no experiment can ever decide between these theories. Another question that has a clear meaning is whether particles are intrinsically distinguishable, i.e., whether particle world lines have labels indicating the species. We discuss the intriguing possibility that the answer is no, and particles are points-just points.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy (General)
Authors
Sheldon Goldstein, James Taylor, Roderich Tumulka, Nino Zanghı`,