The theory of quantum mechanics has revolutionized daily life since its proposal over a century ago, yet its underlying mechanisms remain shrouded in mystery. Physicists are deeply divided on what is happening in the physical reality behind the mathematics.
Equations based on quantum mechanics consistently describe the behavior of extremely small objects, but no one knows what’s happening in the physical world. The problem began when scientists realized classical principles didn’t apply to atoms. Photons and electrons behave like both particles and waves, and they can be in different positions simultaneously, exhibiting different speeds or energies.
In 1925, Erwin Schroedinger and Werner Heisenberg developed a set of complex mathematical tools that describe quantum mechanics using probabilities. These “wave functions” allow for predictions of particle measurements but leave the underlying reality unexplained.
A survey of over 1,100 physicists gathered on the German island of Heligoland found a striking lack of consensus about what quantum theory says about reality. The Copenhagen interpretation, widely accepted by 36 percent, suggests that wave functions collapse upon measurement, while others propose the multiverse theory, which branches off into parallel universes.
Forty-five percent of respondents believed there’s a boundary between the quantum and classical worlds, where laws change suddenly. Only 24 percent were confident in their chosen interpretation, and three-quarters expect it to be replaced by a more comprehensive theory someday.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-just-admitted-nobody-really-gets-quantum-physics