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. I'm pleased to announce the formation of a new non-profit research … Continue reading Welcome!
My guest post on George Musser’s Sci Am Blog
Why arguments against free will based on physics are hugely overrated
It seems that many scientists are eager to throw in the towel on free will. This somewhat technical article, published in Probing the Meaning of Quantum Mechanics: Superpositions, Dynamics, Semantics and Identity , Eds. D. Aerts et al, (2016) https://doi.org/10.1142/10185 , explains why that is a serious mistake. If anything, our best physical theories actually suggest … Continue reading Why arguments against free will based on physics are hugely overrated
No, different observers do not see “irreconcilable facts”: on “Wigner’s Friend”
A recent experiment in the lab, billed as a "Wigner's Friend" experiment, has been interpreted as a test of "local observer independence." The authors claim the experiment shows that observers must irreconcilably disagree on facts related to quantum measurements. The paper linked below (recently accepted in Foundations of Physics) shows that this is a misinterpretation … Continue reading No, different observers do not see “irreconcilable facts”: on “Wigner’s Friend”
A chat with Jeffrey Mishlove on postmortem survival
Jeffrey has been thinking about postmortem survival and wanted to discuss the implications of various physical theories for this question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aME8UONGRFg
Sneak Peek at Chapter 8 of my forthcoming 2nd Edition
The 2nd edition of my 2012 book The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Cambridge University Press) will be coming out in the fall of 2021. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 8, on the emergence of spacetime in the transactional picture. Comments welcome! The Relativistic Transactional Interpretation and Spacetime EmergenceDownload
How to resolve “Quantum Paradoxes” (Talk at CQT Singapore, Jan. 6, 2021)
I recently gave a talk at an online conference presented by the University of Singapore's Center for Quantum Technologies. I discuss how the transactional picture can account for measurement and eliminate many of the problems of standard quantum theory. You can see the talk here: https://youtu.be/26ht9J-E-hg?t=170
Happy New Year! …and the latest on RTI
I'm celebrating the advent of 2021 with a post featuring the very latest theoretical developments supporting the Relativistic Transactional Interpretation (RTI): The Relativistic Transactional Interpretation and The Quantum Direct-Action Theory This material is based on Chapter 5 of the forthcoming 2nd Edition of my book The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: The Reality of Possibility … Continue reading Happy New Year! …and the latest on RTI
Announcing: The Quantum Institute
It is with great excitement that I announce the creation of a new independent, non-profit academic research institute: The Quantum Institute. We are in the early stages of organization, but already moving ahead with some exciting research. Visit our new site to learn about what we're doing!
A Common Worry About TI and Why It’s Not a Problem
In this post, I address a question that pops up from time to time as a possible objection to the transactional picture. The scenario involves a very distant star that engages in a transaction with a person’s eye, so that they see the star as it existed billions of years ago. But suppose the star … Continue reading A Common Worry About TI and Why It’s Not a Problem
Latest incarnation of the Schrödinger Cat Paradox forces a new view of quantum theory
I’ve updated this post since this paper is now published in Foundations of Physics, at this link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10701-020-00336-6
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 FR Paradox Kastner 10.17.19 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 a draft, so comments welcome!
Demystifying the Afshar Experiment
The Afshar experiment (2005 ) is a lovely variant on the famous two-slit experiment. In this experiment, a grid is placed at the location of the dark fringes in what would be an interference pattern, but downstream from that location, the photon beam is subjected to a "which slit" measurement by way of lenses. However, … Continue reading Demystifying the Afshar Experiment
