On the Alleged Extra-Structures of Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

I argue that a particle ontology naturally emerges from the basic dynamical equations of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, when the quantum continuity equation is realistically interpreted. This was recognized by J.J. Sakurai in his famous textbook "Modern Quantum Mechanics", and then dismissed on the basis of the Heisenberg position-momentum uncertainty principle. In this paper, I show that the reasons of this rejection are based on a misunderstanding of the physical import of the uncertainty principle. As a consequence, a particle ontology can be derived from the quantum formalism without the need of additional ad hoc assumptions, and therefore it cannot be regarded as "extra-structure".

Quantum Mechanics: Statistical Balance Prompts Caution in Assessing Conceptual Implications

“…Possible implications of the Kennard-Weyl-Robertson relations which might involve “uncertainty” remain unclear. For example, the relations do not necessarily imply anything about whether or not properties relevant to the measurement types might have definite values in any given member of the ensemble [ 25 ] (Section 7.3) [ 91 ] (Sections 3.2 and 3.4). It is possible that the relations do conceptually apply to single members of the ensemble, but this has not yet been formally established, and so debate on this point continues [ 1 ] (Section 4.6).…”