The Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics in the 21st Century

In the 20th century the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics had the leading position. This interpretation was formulated by N. Bohr and W. Hei­senberg in the late twenties and in thirties and was named the orthodox interpretation as it was presented in leading textbooks. The alternative interpretations arose, however they were treated in connection with the problems, which were typical for the orthodox interpretation. In the 21st century the new situation arose. A number of non-orthodox interpretations has been taken under consi­deration by the physicists, and they have been treated in connection withtheir specific methodological problems. In the present paper we refer to the list of the popular interpretations of quantum mechanics, the list which was compiled on the basis of two sources: 1) a survey of the physicists who participated in the seminar which was organized by the Nobel Prize winner A. Zeilinger, and 2) a review of the literature, provided by the French physicist and the historian of physics F. Laloë. We take under consideration the following interpretations: the Copenhagen interpretation, information interpretation (A. Zeilinger), many-worlds interpretation (H. Everett, B. DeWitt); interpretation of relative states (H. Everett); interpretation of objective collapse (R. Penrose); subjectivist (Bayesian) interpretation.

Bohr model · Copenhagen interpretation · Interpretation (philosophy) · Interpretations of quantum mechanics · Physicist · Subjectivism · Philosophy and History of Science · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Relativity and Gravitational Theory