Entanglement, Information, and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
Gregg Jaeger (Springer, 2007)
Review:
"[C]ontains probably the only available up-to-date coverage of the different interpretations
of Quantum Mechanics. It critically examines the most prominent interpretations in the light
of the results described in the first two chapters. Much attention is devoted to the most recent
interpretations in which information is taken to play a dominant role. The presentation runs
with physics and philosophy constructively coming together, within an account reporting the opinions
of both historical and contemporary authors, starting from the meaning itself of "interpretation", and
running into the problems of realism, determinism, and the empiricism, and the relation between
interpretation and metaphysics. For those interested in this subject, the [third] chapter is a mine
of ideas... After an uncommon account on the "basic interpretations,"...Copenhagens,
the collapse-free (both many worlds and consistent histories) and on the, "naive realistic" ensemble
interpretation, Jaeger presents the first report on the increasingly popular Radical Bayesian
interpretation, currently advocated by Fuchs, according to which the quantum state is a
"state of the observer's belief"... One of the main outcomes of this interpretation is that it directly leads
to the "informational" interpretation of the quantum state, which is at the core of the homonymous
interpretation of quantum mechanics, one of the main focuses of the last chapter....
With his gifted style Jaeger succeeds in treating the delicate matter
of the book in a lucid and engaging way... The presentation often deliberately reflects the author's
personal opinions, in a discussion-provocative way. The matter is very thoroughly documented,
with a very extensive (although carefully selected) bibliography of more than 500 items."
Reviewed by Giacomo Mauro D'Ariano, Quantum Information Processing, ( 2011)
Review:
"As the title suggests, this book focuses on interpreting quantum mechanics in light of entanglement
and information theory. Jaeger (Boston Univ.) correctly notes in the preface that there is a wide range
of interpretations of quantum mechanics among physicists and philosophers. He indicates that this
diversity of interpretation is particularly evident in the microphysical world. He believes that entanglement
and information theory are important in this realm, and that exploring their applications can aid
in interpreting quantum mechanics. To his credit, the author tries to tackle both physical
and philosophical problems. The text is divided into four chapters... Summing Up: Recommended."
Reviewed by E. Kincanon, Choice, (March, 2010)
Review:
"The book...summarize[s] and compare[s] the most important ideas in the interpretation of quantum mechanics,
and... explore[s] both how these ideas may be altered by recent developments in quantum information,
and how interpretational issues may inform the operational goals of quantum information.
...[It] contains a great deal of interesting material about both the history and the philosophy of the interpretation
of quantum mechanics, which is well worth reading.''
Reviewed by Todd A. Brun, Mathematical Reviews, (American Mathematical Society, Issue 2012 a)