Rational Scientific Theories from Theism

Physics Approach to Theistic Science

Revisit: Hamiltonian Quantum Mechanics

• Energy operator generates the wave function,
  • according to Schrödinger’s time-dependent equation
• Propensity wave generates the actual measurement
  • according to Born’s Probability Rule for |y|²
• Actual measurements = selections of alternate histories
• ‘Energy’, ‘propensity waves’ are two kinds of propensity

Measurements are ‘Actual Selections’

• Actual measurements are selections of alternate histories
• Unphysical alternatives actually removed by some (undiscovered) dynamical process.
• This sets to zero any residual coherence between nearly-decoherent histories, if a branch disappears.
• Different alternatives u_ioften summarised by an operator A of which they are distinct eigenfunctions: Au_i=a_i u_i, and labeled by some eigenvalues a_i .

‘Nonlocal Hidden Variables’ in ordinary QM:

• ‘Energy’, ‘propensity’ and ‘actual events’ are all present, though hidden, in a ‘generative’ sequence.
• Energy and propensity exist simultaneously, continuously and non-locally.
• Actual events are intermittent.
• Does this describe QM as we know it?

What does the wavefunction describe?

• The wavefunction describes dynamic substances, which are configuration-fields of propensity for alternate histories.
• The wavefunction of an ‘individual particle’ Y(x,t) describes the ‘isolated’ propensity for x-dependent decoherent alternatives if these were initiated at time t.

Wholeness and Non-locality

• The propensity fields:
• extend over finite space regions and time intervals, so are non-local,
• act to select just one actual alternative,
  • subsequent propensity fields develop from the actual alternative selected,
• ‘whole’ substances, but:
• usually contain many ‘virtual substances’ (see later) in whole ‘unitary compound’
  • So express using configuration space, not in 3D.
    We need further analysis of ‘quantum composition’.

Summary

• I hope that this is an accurate classification of the several ‘stages’ in nature, as seen in QM.
• Should help to understand quantum physics and what really goes on. 
• We can find ‘what the wave function describes’, if we think carefully and with imagination.