The Problem of Molecular Structure Just Is the Measurement Problem

2021/05/03 by Alexander Franklin, Vanessa A. Seifert · 1 voice · 2 citations
Chemistry · #History and advancements in chemistry #Molecular spectroscopy and chirality #Various Chemistry Research Topics

paper · doi:10.1086/715148

Abstract

Whether or not quantum physics can account for molecular structure is a matter of considerable controversy. Three of the problems raised in this regard are the problems of molecular structure. We argue that these problems are just special cases of the measurement problem of quantum mechanics: insofar as the measurement problem is solved, the problems of molecular structure are resolved as well. In addition, we explore one consequence of our argument: that claims about the reduction or emergence of molecular structure cannot be settled independently of the choice of a particular resolution to the measurement problem. Specifically, we consider how three standard putative solutions to the measurement problem inform our understanding of a molecule in isolation, as well as of chemistry’s relation to quantum physics.

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• Part of the answer is that scattering readily distinguishes between enantiomers (but presumably is poor at distinguishing excitation levels). Chirality and racemisation: Some arrangements of matter po [stackexchange, 3 points]

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