Meaning of the Wave Function

At the heart of quantum mechanics lies the wave function, a powerful but mysterious mathematical object which has been a hot topic of debate from its earliest stages. Covering much of the recent debate and providing a comprehensive and critical review of competing approaches, this ambitious text provides new, decisive proof of the reality of the wave function. Aiming to make sense of the wave function in quantum mechanics and to find the ontological content of the theory, this book explores new ontological interpretations of the wave function in terms of random discontinuous motion of particles. Finally, the book investigates whether the suggested quantum ontology is complete in solving the measurement problem and if it should be revised in the relativistic domain. A timely addition to the literature on the foundations of quantum mechanics, this book is of value to students and researchers with an interest in the philosophy of physics.

'A thoughtful survey of the many issues arising from the question: does the quantum mechanical wave function represent physical reality? Gao's book will provoke stimulating discussions among physicists and philosophers of science.' Stephen L. Adler, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, 'A profound book for a deep question.' Nicolas Gisin, Université de Genève, 'The meaning of the wave function is a problem encountered by all students of quantum mechanics. The wave function is usually attributed just a probabilistic significance but might it have other characteristics - could it be a physical field? Gao's admirable book is the first to present a comprehensive analysis of this fundamental topic. Drawing upon recent thinking, the author presents a readable up-to-the-minute assessment of the various viewpoints on the significance of the wave function. The book provides an excellent introduction to this key area in the foundations of physics.' Peter Holland, University of Oxford, 'This book discusses in great detail the fundamental problem of the conceptual and philosophical status of the quantum wave function. The remarkable deepness and completeness of the analysis and the objective style of the author when discussing divergent positions render the book a useful tool of investigation. I unrestrictedly recommend this work to all people interested in contributing to the most intriguing aspects of the measurement problem and the various obscure and debated aspects of quantum mechanics.' Giancarlo Ghirardi, Università degli Studi di Trieste and International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, 'The reality or unreality of the quantum wave function is a topic of lively debate in the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this thoughtful and thought-provoking book, Shan Gao offers nothing less than a novel realist interpretation of the wave function, as describing the propensities of particles undergoing random discontinuous motion. It is a book that everyone interested in the ongoing debates will want to take a look at.' Wayne Myrvold, University of Western Ontario

Shan Gao is Professor of Philosophy at the Research Center for Philosophy of Science and Technology, Shanxi University, and Visiting Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is the founder and managing editor of the International Journal of Quantum Foundations, and is the author of several books and the editor of the recent anthology Protective Measurement and Quantum Reality: Towards a New Understanding of Quantum Mechanics (Cambridge, 2015). His research focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics and the history of modern physics.