260068 VU Modern Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (2024S)

Even after more than 90 years of quantum mechanics the researches have not reached a consensus on what its philosophical and epistemological implications are. A prerequisite for understanding quantum theory is to learn about various failures of explaining quantum behaviour on the basis of the classical notion of reality. This course focuses exactly on this point: what quantum mechanics is not. The lectures and accompanying exercises provide a theoretical minimum for working on quantum foundations as an independent researcher, including all the necessary background knowledge from quantum theory.
Topics: Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, Kochen-Specker theorem, Bell’s theorem, non-local boxes, non-local and no-signalling correlations, no-go theorem for finite-speed influences, non-extendibility of quantum theory, Pusey-Barrett-Rudolph theorem, no-go theorem for finite information content in a quantum system, and no-go theorem for observer-independent facts.