Stern-Gerlach: conceptually clean or acceptably vague?

2019/08/22 by Robert W. Shaw, Shaw, Robert
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Computability, Logic, AI Algorithms #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Statistical Mechanics and Entropy

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1911.00546

openalex publication_date 2019/08/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

This paper develops a number of quantum mechanical characterisations of Stern-Gerlach. It discusses areas of vagueness in their formulation. Philosophers criticise quantum mechanics for unacceptable vagueness in connection with the measurement problem. The quantum formulation problems identified by this paper go beyond the locus of philosophical criticism. It concludes with an open question, are some areas of vagueness in quantum mechanics more acceptable philosophically than others and, if so, why?

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