SMuK 2021 – scientific programme

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AGPhil: Arbeitsgruppe Philosophie der Physik

AGPhil 2: Quantum Theory 1

AGPhil 2.3: Talk

Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 12:15–12:45, H4

Spatial Separation of Magnetic Moment and Location as an Argument for a Trope-Ontological Interpretation of Quantum Field Theory — •Karim Baraghith¹ and Nina Nicolin² — ¹Heinrich Heine Universitaet Duesseldorf, GER — ²Heinrich Heine Universitaet Duesseldorf, GER

It has been suggested to interpret particles in quantum field theory (QFT, in particular AQFT) as bundles of tropes, see e.g. Kuhlmann (2010). In this reading, a *thing* (like a particle) does not *have* its properties, it is the specific combination of the properties which constitute the thing in the first place. We will present an empirical matter-wave interferometer experiment (Denkmayr et. al. [2014]), which shows that one can indeed separate a particle*s properties, experimentally (Chesire Cat phenomenon). It indicates that when sending neutrons through a silicon crystal interferometer, while performing weak measurements in or-der to probe the location of the particle and its magnetic moment, the system behaves as if the neutrons go through one beam path, while their magnetic moment travels along the other. Following a specific interpretation of these observations, it seems to be the case that what we call a *property* may exist fundamentally and independently of its particle (or at least can be isolated from it). We argue that a trope theoretical interpretation of quantum particles * which sees the particle*s properties and not the particle itself as fundamental * is probably the most com-patible ontological interpretation of this phenomenon.