What Is Ontic and What Is Epistemic in the Quantum Mechanics of Spin?

Entropic Dynamics (ED) provides a framework that allows the reconstruction of the formalism of quantum mechanics by insisting on ontological and epistemic clarity and adopting entropic methods and information geometry. Our present goal is to extend the ED framework to account for spin. The result is a <i>realist</i> ψ<i>-epistemic model</i> in which the ontology consists of a particle described by a definite position plus a discrete variable that describes Pauli's peculiar two-valuedness. The resulting dynamics of probabilities is, as might be expected, described by the Pauli equation. What may be unexpected is that the generators of transformations-Hamiltonians and angular momenta, including spin, are all granted clear epistemic status. To the old question, 'what is spinning?' ED provides a crisp answer: <i>nothing is spinning</i>.

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Publication Details

Journal
Entropy
Published
2025-03-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/e27030315
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

What Is Ontic and What Is Epistemic in the Quantum Mechanics of Spin?

Ariel Caticha
Entropy
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
article

What Is Ontic and What Is Epistemic in the Quantum Mechanics of Spin?

Ariel Caticha
article en

Abstract

Entropic Dynamics (ED) provides a framework that allows the reconstruction of the formalism of quantum mechanics by insisting on ontological and epistemic clarity and adopting entropic methods and information geometry. Our present goal is to extend the ED framework to account for spin. The result is a <i>realist</i> ψ<i>-epistemic model</i> in which the ontology consists of a particle described by a definite position plus a discrete variable that describes Pauli's peculiar two-valuedness. The resulting dynamics of probabilities is, as might be expected, described by the Pauli equation. What may be unexpected is that the generators of transformations-Hamiltonians and angular momenta, including spin, are all granted clear epistemic status. To the old question, 'what is spinning?' ED provides a crisp answer: <i>nothing is spinning</i>.

EntropyVol. 27(3)
University at Albany, State University of New York (US)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
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What Is Ontic and What Is Epistemic in the Quantum Mechanics of Spin? — Ariel Caticha · Entropy (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS