Decoherence and the Transition from Quantum to Classical

TLDR

Quantum mechanics accurately predicts a wide range of phenomena, yet the debate over its relation to the classical world persists. The study asks how a theory that precisely accounts for all measurable phenomena can still be considered incomplete.

Abstract

Quantum mechanics works exceedingly well in all practical applications. No example of conflict between its predictions and experiment is known. Without quantum physics we could not explain the behavior of solids, the structure and function of DNA, the color of the stars, the action of lasers or the properties of superfluids. Yet well over half a century after its inception, the debate about the relation of quantum mechanics to the familiar physical world continues. How can a theory that can account ith precision for everything we can measure still be deemed lacking?