A new application of the modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics: The problem of optical isomerism

Fortín, Sebastián; Lombardi, Olímpia; González, Juan Camilo Martínez

doi:10.1016/j.shpsb.2017.06.008

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…A specific interpretation of quantum mechanics has also been claimed to resolve the paradox, namely, the modal Hamiltonian interpretation (MHI) (Fortin et al [2016(Fortin et al [ ], [2018). Lastly, it has been claimed that the 'correct' ground state of an isolated chiral molecule is not of definite parity because there is a 'small parity-violating energy shift' to one of the two enantiomers that, if taken into account, results in a ground state corresponding to an 'unequal' superposition of the two chiral states (MacDermott and Hegstrom [2004], pp.…”

Section: Enantiomers and Hund's Paradoxmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Problem of Molecular Structure Just Is the Measurement Problem

Franklin¹,

Seifert²

2024

The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science

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Whether or not quantum physics can account for molecular structure is a matter of considerable controversy. Three of the problems raised in this regard are the problems of molecular structure. We argue that these problems are just special cases of the measurement problem of quantum mechanics: insofar as the measurement problem is solved, the problems of molecular structure are resolved as well. In addition, we explore one consequence of our argument: that claims about the reduction or emergence of molecular structure cannot be settled independently of the choice of a particular resolution to the measurement problem. Specifically, we consider how three standard putative solutions to the measurement problem inform our understanding of a molecule in isolation, as well as of chemistry's relation to quantum physics. 1 Introduction 2 The Problems of Molecular Structure 2.1 Enantiomers and Hund's paradox 2.2 Isomers and the inability of resultant Hamiltonians to determine molecular structure 2.3 Symmetry breaking 3 The Measurement Problem 3.1 Enantiomers and Hund's paradox 3.2 Isomers and the inability of resultant Hamiltonians to determine molecular structure 3.3 Symmetry breaking 4 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: Implications for the Ontology of Chemistry 4.1 The Everett interpretation 4.2 De Broglie-Bohm theory 4.3 Spontaneous collapse theories 5 Conclusion * Authors listed in alphabetical order.

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Section: Enantiomers and Hund's Paradoxmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Problem of Molecular Structure Just Is the Measurement Problem

Franklin¹,

Seifert²

2024

The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science

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“…Finally, it's time to consider the idea, repeated in several cases, that the isolated molecule has no structure and that symmetry breaking is the result of the interaction between the molecule and its environment (see, traditionally, Woolley 1978; more recently, Fortin et al 2016Fortin et al , 2018. However, this claim needs to be taken with care, because its soundness depends on the particular kind of environment considered.…”

Section: Symmetry Breakingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The idea that quantum measurement is strongly linked with symmetry breaking is not new (see, e.g., Lombardi andCastagnino 2008, Lombardi 2018), even in the case of quantum chemistry (Fortin et al 2016(Fortin et al , 2018. What is new in Franklin and Seifert's paper is the claim that "insofar as the measurement problem is solved, the problems of molecular structure are resolved as well" (Franklin and Seifert 2020, Abstract).…”

Section: Symmetry Breakingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As Franklin and Seifert correctly point out, it is easy to conceive Hund's paradox as a case of the quantum measurement problem: here the issue is to account for the transition from the superposition to one of the chiral states, L or R (see Fortin et al 2016Fortin et al , 2018. Therefore, once the quantum measurement problem is solved, Hund's paradox is solved too.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…On the one hand, the chiral molecule has many degrees of freedom represented in its resultant Hilbert space m , in particular, the quantum degrees of freedom related to the observables R  corresponding to the positions of the nuclei. On the other hand, in this case the eigenstates of the apparatus' pointer P are correlated with the eigenstates L and R of the "chirality" observable Ĉ , whose eigenvalues r and l represent the properties of right-handedness and left-handedness respectively (see Fortin et al 2018). With its two eigenvalues, Ĉ is also a highly degenerate "collective observable" in m , whose definite value -explained by solving the quantum measurement problem-still says nothing about the definite -or almost definitevalues of the nuclei's positions R  .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Is the problem of molecular structure just the quantum measurement problem?

Fortín

Lombardi

2021

Found Chem

Self Cite

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In a recent article entitled "The problem of molecular structure just is the measurement problem", Alexander Franklin and Vanessa Seifert argue that insofar as the quantum measurement problem is solved, the problems of molecular structure are resolved as well. The purpose of the present article is to show that such a claim is too optimistic. Although the solution of the quantum measurement problem is relevant to how the problem of molecular structure is faced, such a solution is not sufficient to account for the structure of molecules as understood in the field of chemistry.

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Do Molecules Have Structure in Isolation? How Models Can Provide the Answer

Seifert

2022

Philosophical Perspectives in Quantum Chemistry

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I argue that molecules may not have structure in isolation. I support this by investigating how quantum models identify structure for isolated molecules. Specifically, I distinguish between two sets of models: those that identify structure in isolation and those that do not. The former identify structure because they presuppose structural information about the target system via the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. However, it is an idealisation to assume structure in isolation because there is no empirical evidence of this. In fact, whenever structure is empirically examined it is always partially determined by factors that are absent in isolation. Together with the growing empirical evidence that isolated molecules behave in non-classical ways, this shows that the quantum models that do not identify structure are more faithful representations of isolated molecules.Preprint of chapter In upcoming Book: Philosophical Perspectives on Quantum Chemistry, ed. by Olimpia Lombardi,

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A new application of the modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics: The problem of optical isomerism

Cited by 16 publications

References 68 publications

The Problem of Molecular Structure Just Is the Measurement Problem

The Problem of Molecular Structure Just Is the Measurement Problem

Is the problem of molecular structure just the quantum measurement problem?

Do Molecules Have Structure in Isolation? How Models Can Provide the Answer

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