Taxonomy for physics beyond quantum mechanics

Journal article

We propose terminology to classify interpretations of quantum mechanics and models that modify or complete quantum mechanics. Our focus is on models which have previously been referred to as superdeterministic (strong or weak), retrocausal (with or without signalling, dynamical or non-dynamical), future-input-dependent, atemporal and all-at-once, not always with the same meaning or context. Sometimes, these models are assumed to be deterministic, sometimes not, the word deterministic has been given different meanings, and different notions of causality have been used when classifying them. This has created much confusion in the literature, and we hope that the terms proposed here will help to clarify the nomenclature. The general model framework that we will propose may also be useful to classify other interpretations and modifications of quantum mechanics. This document grew out of the discussions at the 2022 Bonn Workshop on Superdeterminism and Retrocausality.

Authors: Adlam, E; Hance, JR; Hossenfelder, S; Palmer, TN

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
• Volume: 480
• Issue: 2294
• Article number: 20230779
• Publication date: 2024-07-24
• Acceptance date: 2024-06-10
• DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2023.0779
• EISSN: 1471-2946
• ISSN: 1364-5021
• Language: English
• Keywords: interpretations; quantum; taxonomy; theories; models