Henry Stapp

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Henry Stapp
Born
Henry Pierce Stapp

(1928-03-23) March 23, 1928 (age 96)
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (B.Sc.)
University of California, Berkeley (M.A.)(Ph.D.)
Scientific career
FieldsTheoretical physics, quantum mechanics
InstitutionsUniversity of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisorEmilio Segrè
Owen Chamberlain

Henry Pierce Stapp (born March 23, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio)

mathematical physicist, known for his work in quantum mechanics, particularly the development of axiomatic S-matrix theory, the proofs of strong nonlocality properties, and the place of free will in the "orthodox" quantum mechanics of John von Neumann.[2]

Biography

Stapp received his PhD in particle physics at the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Nobel Laureates Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain.

In 1958, Stapp was invited by Wolfgang Pauli to ETH Zurich to work with him personally on basic problems in quantum mechanics. When Pauli died in December 1958, Stapp studied von Neumann's book, and on the basis of that work composed an article entitled "Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics", which was not submitted for publication; but the title became the title of his 1993 book.

In 1969 Stapp was invited by Werner Heisenberg to work with him at the Max Planck Institute in Munich.

In 1976 Stapp was invited by J.A. Wheeler to work with him on problems in the foundations of Quantum Mechanics. Dr. Stapp has published many papers pertaining to the non-local aspects of quantum mechanics and Bell's theorem, including three books published by Springer-Verlag.

Stapp has worked also in a number of conventional areas of high energy physics, including analysis of the scattering of polarized protons, parity violation, and S-matrix theory.[3]

Research

Some of Stapp's work concerns the implications of quantum mechanics (QM). He has argued for the relevance of QM to consciousness and free will.[4]

Stapp favors the idea that quantum wave functions collapse only when they interact with consciousness as a consequence of "orthodox" quantum mechanics. He argues that quantum wave functions collapse when conscious minds select one among the alternative quantum possibilities. His hypothesis of how mind may interact with matter via

synapses. Stapp's view of the neural correlate of attention is explained in his book, Mindful Universe: Quantum Mechanics and the Participating Observer (2007). Stapp has claimed that consciousness is fundamental to the universe.[5]

In this book he credits John von Neumann's Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (1955, 1932) with providing an "orthodox" quantum mechanics demonstrating mathematically the essential role of quantum physics in the mind. Stapp has taken interest in the work of Alfred North Whitehead. He has proposed what he calls a "revised Whiteheadianism".[6] He has also written a chapter "Whiteheadian Process and Quantum Theory" (pp. 92–102) in the book Physics and Whitehead: Quantum, Process, and Experience (2003).

His philosophy has been described as being influenced by both Heisenberg's physical

panexperientialism".[7] Stapp has co-authored papers with Jeffrey M. Schwartz. Schwartz has connected the work of Stapp with the concept of "mental force" and spiritual practices of Buddhism.[8]

Reception

Stapp's work has drawn criticism from scientists such as David Bourget and Danko Georgiev.

quantum information theory according to which acting with projection operators upon the density matrix of a quantum system can never decrease the Von Neumann entropy of the system, but can only increase it.[10][11] Stapp has responded to Bourget and Georgiev stating that the allegations of errors are incorrect.[13][14]

Selected publications

See also

References

  1. ^ "Henry Stapp Curriculum Vitae" Archived 2014-12-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "Henry Stapp, Ph.D." Esalen Institute. May 12, 2005. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  3. .
  4. ^ Deepak C; Stapp, H. (2014). "Is a Mind-Element Needed to Interpret Quantum Mechanics? Do Physically Undetermined Choices Enter into the Evolution of the Physical Universe?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
  5. ^ Bourget, D. (2004). "Quantum Leaps in Philosophy of Mind: A Critique of Stapp's Theory". Journal of Consciousness Studies. 11 (12): 17–42.
  6. ^ a b c Georgiev, D. (2012). "Mind efforts, quantum Zeno effect and environmental decoherence". .
  7. ^ a b Georgiev, D. (2015). "Monte Carlo simulation of quantum Zeno effect in the brain".
    S2CID 118390522
    .
  8. .
  9. ^ Stapp, H. (2004). "Quantum Leaps in Philosophy of Mind: Reply to Bourget's Critique". Journal of Consciousness Studies 11 (12): 43-49.
  10. ^ Stapp, H. (2012). "Reply to a Critic: "Mind Efforts, Quantum Zeno Effect and Environmental Decoherence". NeuroQuantology 10 (4): 601-605.

Further reading

External links