Ontology of the quantum mechanical density matrix according to Roger Penrose


Abstrakt:

Unlike Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose belongs to a growing group of physicists attempting to construct a picture of reality that can be implied based upon the achievements of contemporary physical theories. Penrose’s stance relies on the assumption that mathematical structures constitute their own universum. Consequently, the physical reality is emergent with respect to the world of mathematics. However, not every mathematical entity finds its counterpart in the domain of physics. Roger Penrose argues that contrary to the well defined physical reality of a quantum state described by a wave vector, the quantum mechanical matrix of density does not yield a viable ontology. The goal of this study is the analysis as well as the critical assessment of Penrose’s argumentation in this regard.