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arXiv · 0909.0175

A symmetry problem in the Copenhagen interpretation

I. Schmelzer
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Abstract

A non-uniqueness result for the canonical structure in quantum theory shows that the classical part of the Copenhagen interpretation contains physically important information not contained in its quantum part. As a consequence, we cannot compute the symmetry group of a quantum theory considering only the quantum part. The unavoidable vagueness of the classical part therefore leads to a similar vagueness in the definition of the symmetry group. This makes it at least problematic, if not impossible, to establish the true symmetry group of a quantum theory in the Copenhagen interpretation. Different from the old measurement problem, the symmetry group is to important physically to be rejected as a metaphysical pseudoproblem.

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I. Schmelzer. 2009-09-01. A symmetry problem in the Copenhagen interpretation. https://arxiv.org/abs/0909.0175

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