Quantum theory is the basic physical theory describing matter. In October 1900, Max Planck introduced the constant h, the quantum of action, in the radiation formula of the heat spectrum [14]. h is the smallest energy portion per oscillation that exits. Planck's radiation formula interpolates between short-wave, particle-type radiation and long-wave radiation. Hence, for the first time, it describes a complementarity between particle picture and wave picture. This "as well as" of particle picture and wave picture is characteristic for quantum theory. It is explicitly expressed and generally formulated by the Heisenberg commutation relation (1925) which implies the Heisenberg uncertainty relation (1927) [15, 16].
In quantum theory, the observable quantities are presented by self-adjoint operators forming a non-commutative algebra. The successive action of two operators depends on their sequence one after the other, i.e. it does not commute, in general. The paradigmatic example is the Heisenberg commutation relation. The uncertainty relation makes a precise space-time localization impossible. Consequently, we have to ask for the definition of quantum objects, and for the interpretation of quantum theory. A constructivistic interpretation of quantum theory [17] employs definition cuts to cut quantum objects out of the quantum-theoretic universe. The notion of definition-cut further develops the "Heisenberg cut", and the "collaps of the quantum mechanic wave function" which is central for the Kopenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics [18].
Sources
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[14]
Max Planck: "Über eine Verbesserung der Wienschen Spektralgleichung", Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft 2 (1900), 202-204.
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[15]
Werner Heisenberg: "Über quantentheoretische Umdeutung kinematischer und mechanischer Beziehungen". Zeitschrift für Physik 33 (1925) 879.
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[16]
Werner Heisenberg: "Über den anschaulichen Inhalt der quantentheoretischen Kinematik und Mechanik". Zeitschrift für Physik 43 (1927) 172-198.
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[17]
Eberhard Müller: "A Constructivistic Interpretation of Quantum Theory Preserves Causation". In "Current Issues in Causation", Wolfgang Spohn, Marion Ledwig, Michael Elsfeld (eds.). mentis, Paderborn, 2001, S. 191-198.
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[18]
Eberhard Müller: "Interdisziplinärer Zugang zu den Grundlagen der Quantentheorie". Vorlesung im Sommersemester 2017 an der TU-Berlin.
Das "Sein" ist immer etwas von uns gedanklich Konstruiertes, also von uns (im logischen Sinne) frei Gesetzes.
Albert Einstein
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Proceedings zum Symposium des Promotionsschwerpunkts "Wechselwirkungen" des Evangelischen Studienwerks am 15.-18. Oktober 2012
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