Mångvärldstolkningen

Mångvärldstolkningen is a prominent interpretation of quantum mechanics that proposes the universe constantly splits into multiple parallel universes. This splitting occurs whenever a quantum measurement is made. In essence, for every possible outcome of a quantum event, a new universe branches off where that specific outcome is realized.

Proposed by Hugh Everett III in 1957, the theory was initially met with skepticism. The core idea is that instead of a quantum system collapsing into a single state upon measurement, all possible states persist, each in its own separate universe. This elegantly avoids the problem of wave function collapse, a perplexing aspect of the standard Copenhagen interpretation.

According to Mångvärldstolkningen, when a quantum system in superposition interacts with a macroscopic observer or measuring device, the universe bifurcates. For instance, if a quantum particle has a superposition of spin up and spin down, a measurement will cause the universe to split into two. In one universe, the particle is observed as spin up, and in the other, it is observed as spin down.

This interpretation suggests an unimaginably vast number of parallel universes, constantly branching. While it offers a seemingly simpler mathematical framework by eliminating the need for a collapse postulate, it also presents significant philosophical challenges, particularly regarding the nature of reality and the concept of probability. The unobservable nature of these other universes makes direct experimental verification extremely difficult, leading to ongoing debate among physicists and philosophers.