Initiative for Philosophy and Foundations of Physics and Chemistry

Initiative PFPC

Grupo de Filosofía de la Ciencias

GFC

FFyL - FCEyN - UBA

Research Group of the Project

Quantum mechanics: interpretation and intertheoretical relations

The working group is composed of an interdisciplinary team dedicated to the study of ontology in physics and chemistry, and to the intertheoretical relationships between the theories of these disciplines.

Project Summary:

The project is organized around two main themes:

• Relations between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics: The general objective is to continue clarifying the conceptual aspects of quantum decoherence theory and the quantum-classical limit from the perspective of the Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation, and to further extend the analysis to the domain of quantum field theory (relativistic quantum mechanics.

• Relations between quantum mechanics and chemistry: The general objective is to continue analyzing the relationship between chemistry and quantum mechanics and to advance the foundation for the ontological autonomy of chemistry. To this end, research on the so-called Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules will be continued, and the study of the ontology specific to Quantum Chemistry as used by chemists will be incorporated.

Team members

Dr. Sebastian Fortin: Bachelor’s and PhD in Physical Sciences, PhD in History and Philosophy of Science. Independent Researcher at CONICET. He contributes to the research with his expertise in the philosophy of physics and chemistry, and coordinates the work across all three modules. In particular, he is the co-author, together with Olimpia Lombardi and Mario Castagnino, of the General Framework for Decoherence and has formulated the initial steps toward reconciling this framework with the Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation.

Dra. Olimpia Lombardi: Electronic Engineer, Bachelor’s and PhD in Philosophy. Senior Researcher at CONICET. She contributes to the research with her expertise in the philosophy of physics and coordinates the work across all three modules. In particular, she is the author, together with Mario Castagnino, of the Modal-Hamiltonian Interpretation of quantum mechanics, and has formulated and developed the idea of a modal ontology of properties for the theory.

Dr. Mariana Córdoba: PhD in Philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Professor of Philosophy at the Secondary and Higher Education levels (UBA), Assistant Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), and Lecturer in the Common Basic Cycle (CBC), UBA. She completed her doctoral dissertation and has published numerous articles on the topic of the project.

Dr. Marcelo Losada: Bachelor’s and PhD in Physical Sciences, Assistant Researcher at CONICET. He specializes in quantum measurement problems and in temporally asymmetric quantum theories.

Dr. Claudia Vanney holds a Licentiate and a PhD in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires, as well as a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Navarra. She is a Professor at Universidad Austral. She previously served as Director of Studies and Director of Research at the Faculty of Engineering of Universidad Austral, and as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Universidad Austral from 2008 to 2010. She is currently Director of the Institute of Philosophy at Universidad Austral. Her specialization is in the philosophy of physics, with particular emphasis on the problem of determinism.

Dr. Juan Camilo Martínez González: Bachelor’s in Chemistry, PhD in History and Philosophy of Science under the co-supervision of Olimpia Lombardi, Assistant Researcher at CONICET. He has published, together with several members of the group, on the philosophy of chemistry, both on the development of a chemistry-specific ontology and on its relation to physical ontology.

Lic. Jesús Alberto Jaimes Arriaga: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Chemical Sciences, currently completing his PhD in Philosophy under the supervision of Sebastian Fortin and co-supervision of Olimpia Lombardi. He is currently a CONICET Latin American Fellow. His doctoral thesis focuses on studying the role of Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules in the intertheoretical relations between chemistry and physics.

Prof. Hernán Accorinti: University Professor of Philosophy, currently pursuing his PhD in Philosophy under the supervision of Olimpia Lombardi and co-supervision of Sebastian Fortin. He is currently a CONICET Doctoral Fellow. His doctoral research focuses on different approaches to models in the empirical sciences, with special application to physics and chemistry. He has published, together with several members of the group, on the approaches used in quantum chemistry and on the ontological status of phonons.

Mag. Manuel Herrera: Bachelor’s in Engineering Sciences and Master’s in Philosophy of Science, currently pursuing his PhD in Philosophy under the supervision of Olimpia Lombardi and co-supervision of Sebastian Fortin. His doctoral research focuses on the role of conservation theorems in the conception of causality. He has published, together with other members of the group, on the ontological status of phonons.

Lic. Cristian López holds a Licentiate degree in Philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the same university, funded by a CONICET doctoral fellowship. His areas of specialization include philosophy and metaphysics of physics, in particular the philosophy of time, the ontology of quantum mechanics, and the philosophy of information.

Lic. María José Ferreira Ruíz holds a Licentiate degree in Philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the same university with a CONICET fellowship. Her research is in the area of philosophy of biology, with particular attention to conceptual and metaphysical problems in molecular biology.

Initiative for Philosophy and Foundations of Physics and Chemistry, Argentina