The trouble with pilot-wave theory: a critical evaluation

[2408.05403] The trouble with pilot-wave theory: a critical evaluation Skip to main content Search Submit Donate Log in Search arXiv Press Enter to search · Advanced search Quantum Physics arXiv:2408.05403 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 10 Aug 2024] Title: The trouble with pilot-wave theory: a critical evaluation Authors: Antony Valentini View a PDF of the paper titled The trouble with pilot-wave theory: a critical evaluation, by Antony Valentini View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract: Objections to pilot-wave theory frequently come in three mutually-contradictory categories: that the theory is too bizarrely different from ordinary physics, that the theory is not radically different enough, and that the physics of pilot-wave theory is after all just the same as quantum physics. After a brief review of pilot-wave theory, we critically evaluate these objections. We show how the radical nature of pilot-wave theory is often misunderstood or overlooked. We highlight the novelty of its dynamics, and clarify its implications for our understanding of measurement, as well as discussing the status of Lorentz invariance, conservation laws, and the Born rule. We examine Einstein's early work on pilot-wave theory and argue that he turned away from it for reasons which are no longer compelling. We urge that the theory be understood on its own terms, as a generalised nonequilibrium theory empirically distinct from quantum mechanics, with all its potentially revolutionary implications. Comments: 37 pages. To appear in: Guiding Waves in Quantum Mechanics: 100 Years of de Broglie-Bohm Pilot-Wave Theory, A. Oldofredi (ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph) ; History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) Cite as: arXiv:2408.05403 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2408.05403v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2408.05403 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite Journal reference: Guiding Waves in Quantum Mechanics: One Hundred Years of de Broglie-Bohm Pilot-Wave Theory, ed. A. Oldofredi (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2025), pp. 67-100 Submission history From: Antony Valentini [ view email ] [v1] Sat, 10 Aug 2024 01:45:59 UTC (38 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled The trouble with pilot-wave theory: a critical evaluation, by Antony Valentini View PDF HTML (experimental) TeX Source view license Current browse context: quant-ph < prev | next > new | recent | 2024-08 Change to browse by: physics physics.hist-ph References & Citations INSPIRE HEP NASA ADS Google Scholar Semantic Scholar export BibTeX citation Loading... BibTeX formatted citation × loading... Data provided by: Bookmark Bibliographic Tools Bibliographic and Citation Tools Bibliographic Explorer Toggle Bibliographic Explorer ( What is the Explorer? ) Connected Papers Toggle Connected Papers ( What is Connected Papers? ) Litmaps Toggle Litmaps ( What is Litmaps? ) scite.ai Toggle scite Smart Citations ( What are Smart Citations? ) Code, Data, Media Code, Data and Media Associated with this Article alphaXiv Toggle alphaXiv ( What is alphaXiv? ) Links to Code Toggle CatalyzeX Code Finder for Papers ( What is CatalyzeX? ) DagsHub Toggle DagsHub ( What is DagsHub? ) GotitPub Toggle Gotit.pub ( What is GotitPub? ) Huggingface Toggle Hugging Face ( What is Huggingface? ) ScienceCast Toggle ScienceCast ( What is ScienceCast? ) Demos Demos Replicate Toggle Replicate ( What is Replicate? ) Spaces Toggle Hugging Face Spaces ( What is Spaces? ) Spaces Toggle TXYZ.AI ( What is TXYZ.AI? ) Related Papers Recommenders and Search Tools Link to Influence Flower Influence Flower ( What are Influence Flowers? ) Core recommender toggle CORE Recommender ( What is CORE? ) Author Venue Institution Topic About arXivLabs arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs . Which authors of this paper are endorsers? | Disable MathJax ( What is MathJax? ) We gratefully acknowledge support from our major funders , member institutions , , and all contributors. About · Help · Contact · Subscribe · Copyright · Privacy · Accessibility · Operational Status (opens in new tab) Major funding support from

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