Welcome! Here you will find information about the latest, relativistic version of the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics, 'RTI', blog posts, and an opportunity for informal discussion. The transactional interpretation (TI) is a new way of understanding what's behind the formalism of quantum physics. Here's an animation that gives a basic idea of the transactional … Continue reading Welcome!
My guest post on George Musser’s Sci Am Blog
Latest incarnation of the Schrödinger Cat Paradox forces a new view of quantum theory
A recent paper by Frauchiger and Renner has brought to light a serious problem with conventional approaches to quantum theory, by deriving a contradiction using those approaches. In this paper, I argue that the paradox shows that quantum theory leads to absurdities and inconsistencies unless there is a clear physical criterion for 'measurement'. This is … Continue reading Latest incarnation of the Schrödinger Cat Paradox forces a new view of quantum theory
The ‘Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser’ Neither Erases Nor Delays
The so-called 'quantum eraser' is an experiment that has prompted widespread confusion. In fact, it is nothing more than a photonic version of the EPR experiment. Nothing is erased, and there is no necessary retrocausation or 'temporal nonlocality,' beyond standard EPR correlations. I attempt to clear up the confusion in this paper, which has now … Continue reading The ‘Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser’ Neither Erases Nor Delays
Important New Book on Math Education
Bernice Kastner is a math educator whose innovative approach has helped to transform classrooms and enable many students to gain confidence and mastery in math. (She also happens to be my mother.) Her new book, The Role of Language in Teaching Children Math, is now out: https://www.austinmacauley.com/us/book/role-language-teaching-children-math From the publisher: "It can be difficult to … Continue reading Important New Book on Math Education
A critical look at popular ‘retrocausation’ claims. Do they hold up?
In this publication, I address popular uses of the term 'retrocausation' in connection with quantum theory, and find that there is much that needs to be corrected and clarified. Much of the discussion in the literature on this topic involves inconsistencies and equivocation about what retrocausation really is, and about what it can do. In … Continue reading A critical look at popular ‘retrocausation’ claims. Do they hold up?
Interview with Adam Alonzi on RTI, Schrodinger’s Cat, Time’s Arrow, Free Will
https://alonzipodcast.com/wp/2018/11/01/our-unseen-reality-the-relativistic-transactional-interpretation-of-quantum-mechanics-with-ruth-kastner/ Note correction: I should have said that a real photon goes FROM the emitter TO the absorber (said it backwards, LOL).
Visit to Buenos Aires, Grupo de Filosofía de las Ciencias.
I had fun in Buenos Aires last summer with the great people in the Grupo de Filosofía de las Ciencias. Here is my talk on how to understand the emergence of classicality from the quantum level in the context of statistical approaches. https://youtu.be/kvXYmB2qj88
Why “making sense of quantum theory” by denying that theories are about the world does not really work
This post points out a little-known but powerful and important argument from Joe Henson regarding a proposed interpretation of quantum theory known as "Qbism". Qbism is currently advocated primarily by Fuchs, Mermin, and Schack. Henson's argument discloses a crucial fallacy in Qbism's claim to demonstrate that quantum mechanics is a local theory, where a 'local' … Continue reading Why “making sense of quantum theory” by denying that theories are about the world does not really work
