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Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality
Submission Window: Closed
Quantum mechanics has been one of the most successful theories in science and is believed by many to underlie all known natural phenomena. More than eighty years after its discovery, however, a complete understanding of the theory's “physical principles” and implications still eludes us. Many believe that quantum physics poses a serious challenge to philosophical ideas such as determinism, reductionism, and local realism and that it presents us with a radically new vision of reality.
Quantum physics is currently going through a very fruitful period, partly due to the rapid development of the new field of quantum information. Many significant new ideas have been proposed, and a range of important new experiments are being performed. This is an opportune time to revisit the very foundations of quantum physics and to investigate the nature of reality.
The Foundation’s 2010 Funding Priority on “Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality” is intended to support serious research on some of the most profound issues in science today. Proposals in theoretical physics, experimental physics, and the philosophy of quantum physics are welcome, as are interdisciplinary proposals, in response to either of the following Big Questions:
- 1Can the “measurement problem” in quantum physics be resolved?
- 2 What does quantum information tell us about the nature of reality?
Budget range and term for individual projects: From $50,000 to $800,000 and for up to two years.