Introduction to the Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

The aim of this book is to supply a comprehensive presentation of a new member of the family of the modal interpretations of quantum mechanics. According to our modal-Hamiltonian interpretation, the Hamiltonian of the quantum system plays a decisive role in the definition of systems and subsystems, and in the rule that selects the observables whose possible values become actual. We shall begin with introducing the main interpretative postulates and by proving their Galilean invariance. Then we shall argue for the physical relevance of the interpretation. We shall also show how our interpretation solves the quantum measurement problem, both in the ideal and in the non-ideal versions, and why this solution is compatible with the environment-induced decoherence approach. Finally, we shall describe, from a philosophical viewpoint, the quantum ontology implied by the interpretation.