Decoherence in Bohmian Modal Interpretations

Abstract

Bohm's interpretation of quantum mechanics can be regarded as a modal interpretation in which a fixed preferred observable-for Bohm, configuration space position-is taken as determinate in all quantum states. I show how the phenomenon of decoher-ence that arises in the interaction of a measuring instrument with its environment plays a crucial role in Bohm's solution to the measurement problem. The significance of decoherence in Bohm's interpretation and in Dieks-type modal interpretations turns out to be very different from its significance in the orthodox interpretation.