Can the laws of quantum mechanics be derived from a more fundamental theory?

Question

String theory takes quantum mechanics and tries to make it compatible with gravity. If it turns out to be a theory of everything then would it explain why our world is described by the laws of quantum mechanics?

I want to understand if the laws of quantum mechanics are the only logical possibility for a low-energy theory potentially derivable from a better understanding of string theory. The other possibility is that they are just strange laws that are discovered through experiments that can't be reached by pure theoretical reasoning.

Which of the two possibilities is more reasonable from a physics point of view and why?

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user bill

Comments

@dmckee I have edited the formulation of this question to make it more to the point. I think asking if the laws of quantum mechanics can be derived from a more fundamental theory is a legitimate fundamental physics question. It can be answered in accordance with the actual point of view hold by theoretical physicists, as Lubos Motls has shown in his comment or in more detail in his blog article he linkes too. So can the question now be reopend? (I think people who do not properly understand the questions discussing too much nonsense in the comments does not invalidate the question itself)

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Dilaton

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The question asks if there is a more fundamental theory behind quantum mechanics(QM). This is a huge subject starting with e.g. hidden variable theories, Bohm's pilot wave theory, 't Hooft's deterministic models, etc.; and continuing with the latest ideas of quantum gravity. Perhaps it would be more constructive if OP would ask about a concrete proposal that extends QM? Related: The reference frame, this and this posts.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Qmechanic

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@Qmechanic yes I know ... :-). So saying that it is rather the other way round together with Lumo's comment and article about why QM can not be different would make a good correct answer I think.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Dilaton

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I think this question should get reopend to obtain a nice and clear answer which clears all misconceptions up once and for all.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Dilaton

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Just like any physical theory, quantum theory can be wrong, and will almost certainly be proven to be wrong by future experiments. In fact, the combination of quantum theory and general relativity suggests that any theory formulated in terms of real numbers are wrong, which include quantum theory and general relativity. This is because if quantum theory and general relativity are correct, then real number cannot exist, since real number can never be measured. So quantum theory and general relativity are not self consistent. One of them must be wrong. Most likely, both of them are wrong.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Xiao-Gang Wen

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This doesn't seem to be a question with a concrete answer, but rather a request for discussion. In that sense it is a good questions, but a poor fit for the Q&A format.

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user dmckee

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@Qmechanic as I understood the first version of the question, the OP is mainly interested in the question if the laws of quantum mechanics can be explained from (a deeper understanding of) string theory. Maybe the title should be edited again to reflect this? It would be best if the OP clarifies the issue further but I could edit the title once again too ...

This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2014-04-05 04:41 (UCT), posted by SE-user Dilaton

Answer 1

It was Einstein's dream that nature would arise from his unified field theory, and that QM would describe it at the statistical level. 't Hooft arrived at a similar view. From the analysis of models for ideal quantum measurement, it has become clear the QM indeed leaves open the possibility that it derives from a hidden variables theory. Forget Bell inequalities, they cannot escape the contextuality loophole, and thus cannot have any say on physics. Also forget string theory for this, that is a form of QM.