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Spontaneous Collapse Theories and Temporal Primitivism about Time's Direction.

Cristian López¹

¹Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Foundations of Physics

|October 11, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study argues for a primitive direction of time in quantum mechanics, challenging the prevailing view. It suggests that spontaneous collapse theories, like GRWm, support a fundamental time direction, not a derivative one.

Keywords:

Collapse theories Primitivism Quantum mechanics Time-reversal invariance Time’s direction

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Area of Science:

* Foundational Physics
* Quantum Mechanics
* Philosophy of Time

Background:

* The direction of time is debated: either a fundamental property (primitivism) or derived from a directionless reality (non-primitivism).
* Non-primitivism is favored due to time-reversal invariant fundamental dynamical laws.
* This paper explores arguments for primitivism in the quantum realm.

Purpose of the Study:

* To provide grounds for supporting a primitive direction of time within quantum theory.
* To leverage the underdetermination of quantum theories to support primitivism.
* To demonstrate how spontaneous collapse theories can ground a primitive direction of time.

Main Methods:

* Analysis of metaphysical and dynamical underdetermination in quantum theories.
* Examination of spontaneous collapse theories, specifically the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) model and Continuous Spontaneous Localization (CSL).
* Investigation of the time-reversal properties of the ontology in GRW with a matter-density field (GRWm).

Main Results:

* Spontaneous collapse theories, when their ontology is considered, are not invariant under time reversal.
* The GRWm model provides a framework where the ontology exhibits a clear direction of time.
* This non-invariance supports the primitivist view of time's direction.

Conclusions:

* A primitive direction of time can be defended within the quantum realm.
* Spontaneous collapse theories offer a viable foundation for quantum primitivism.
* The GRWm model illustrates how a fundamental direction of time emerges in quantum processes.