I am getting some confusion on whether M-theory accepts many-worlds interpretation. Can anyone show me the reasons or rebuttals for the possibility of the many-worlds interpretation in M-theory? Thanks.
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$\begingroup$ @Dilaton See one use of the many-worlds interpretation. I'd say it's pretty useful when you want to get a feel of things. $\endgroup$– ManishearthMar 11, 2012 at 15:53
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$\begingroup$ @Manishearth Yeah I`ve seen the discussion between You and @DavidZaslavsky, but I dont see how the calculations using the classical Maxwell equations can strenghten the case for the MWI and how a proper inclusion of QED should finally differ from the summation over both (or integration over all) paths. I may be wrong of course ... :-) $\endgroup$– DilatonMar 17, 2012 at 13:23
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$\begingroup$ @Dilaton Yeah, I mean that as a standalone theory it may be pretty useless, but since it doesn't have any serious flaws, we can use it to get a feel of things in conjunction with the main theory. Which makes it useful I suppose. $\endgroup$– ManishearthMar 17, 2012 at 13:28
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1$\begingroup$ @Manyshearth Even though I think the MWI is not needed for doing correct calculations in QM, it is probably ok if it helps people getting a feeling for things. $\endgroup$– DilatonMar 17, 2012 at 13:39
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$\begingroup$ @Dilaton: While it's not any different quantum mechanics, consistientt histories is still usefu,l, e.g. in scattering amlitudes. $\endgroup$– Abhimanyu Pallavi SudhirSep 1, 2013 at 4:32
2 Answers
This contains no new information but since nobody else seems to jump in I thought I could transform my comment into a short answer.
Many-worlds is just an (I don't know how useful ...) interpretation of QM and is not (directly) related to M-theory or to the large number of vacua it has as solutions. These are two separate issues or concepts which are sometimes confusingly both called multiverse. So M-theory neither refutes nor accepts the many-worlds interpretation.
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$\begingroup$ Sorry for bumping up the question on the active question list but I assume there is no way to "quietly" add an answer ...? $\endgroup$– DilatonMar 17, 2012 at 13:15
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1$\begingroup$ Nope. When mooching around the review section the inability to make ninja edits bugs me, since I can't make more than four edits in good conscience (it clutters up the main page) $\endgroup$ Mar 17, 2012 at 13:26
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$\begingroup$ @Manyshearth I the edits are good and worth it, maybe You dont need to have a too bad concience ;-) $\endgroup$– DilatonMar 17, 2012 at 13:35
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2$\begingroup$ well, good new posts on the main page get pushed down and neglected. So even if the edits are worth it, the impact on newer questions is pretty bad.. :/ $\endgroup$ Mar 17, 2012 at 13:37
Just to expand slightly on an existing answer: many worlds depends entirely on how you interpret quantum mechanics, and the interpretational issues have nothing to do with M-theory. However, M-theory is a quantum theory, so you have to embrace quantum mechanics/ quantum field theory and think about the interpretational issues if you want to understand reality.