Abstract

Ever since there has been quantum mechanics, there has been a debate embroiling physicists and philosophers about some of its most fundamental aspects. “What is a quantum state?”, “What effect, if any, does measurement have on a system?”, “What do we even mean by ‘measurement’?” These questions, and more, can all be considered a part of the Quantum Reality Problem (A.K.A. the Measurement Problem). They have spawned ideas that sparked controversy and captivated the wider public, such as Schrodinger’s infamous cat and Everett’s oft-misunderstood “many worlds” interpretation. In this talk, I will give a more detailed statement of the “Quantum Reality Problem” and then proceed to discuss the merits and shortcomings of a few proposed solutions. My aim is to make this talk as accessible as possible to a variety of mathematical backgrounds, though a familiarity with some of the more well known facets of quantum theory will naturally prove helpful.