Fuzzy Physics. On "Unschärfe" in Quantum Theory

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the founders of quantum theory struggled for a generally intelligible depiction of quantum physics. Even though phenomena could be described and predicted very well by means of complicated mathematics, it seemed nearly impossible to find a comprehensible translation in every-day language. How to explain why light and matter exhibited either characteristics of waves or particles, depending on the respective experiment? How to talk about the concepts of superposition or collapse of wave functions in front of an audience of laymen? And what exactly was the famous Unschärfe-Relation (English: Uncertainty Relation), established by Werner Heisenberg? My project aims on a scientifically informed study, making use of the methods of literary criticism and cultural history. It focuses the concept of Unschärfe from different perspectives. Interestingly, Unschärfe did not only play a decisive role in quantum physics. It was also intensively discussed in other spheres, such as photography, arts, optometry, cinematography, philosophy and literature. In my work, I will explore discussions of Unschärfe in different types of quantum physical texts. I will trace connections between quantum physical debates of Unschärfe and negotiations of Unschärfe in other areas. Despite the prominence of Unschärfe in early 20th century discourses, it has not been discussed so far in relation to modern physics. Close readings, combined with the approaches of cultural sciences and the history of sciences, should contribute to a better understanding of this specific and important facet and thus to a better understanding of the history of quantum theory. Furthermore, I will analyze the transfer from allegedly exact formulas to un-precise, somehow blurred every-day language. Even though quantum physicists considered depictions of modern physics mostly as deficient, I would like to argue that it is precisely this blurriness (Unschärfe) in a rhetorical sense which makes quantum theory attractive to other than scientific spheres. In the course of the 20th century, quantum theory has been adopted by literature and philosophy, but also by religious and esoteric groups, by Eastern philosophy, the humanities and many others. My claim is that Unschärfe (by rhetorical means) plays a pivotal role within this transfer process, even being the precondition for the attractiveness of quantum theory to other fields. By focusing Unschärfe in the works of quantum physicists from the perspective of literary criticism and contextualizing Unschärfe within early 20th century debates, my project provides an innovative approach on the cultural history of modern physics. By sheding light on a specific facet, it contributes to a better understanding of the development and the reception of quantum theory.

Since the early phase of quantum physics in the first third of the 20th century, the founders of quantum theory struggled for a depiction generally intelligible. Even though the phenomena could be described and predicted very well by means of complicated mathematics, it seemed nearly impossible to find a comprehensible translation in every-day language: What did it mean, when light, but also matter exhibited either characteristics of waves or particles - depending on the respective experiment? How one should explain the concept of 'superposition' or 'collapse' of wave function to an audience of laymen? What even was a ' wave function'? Up to nowadays, Heisenberg's famous 'Unschärfe-Relation' (english: Uncertainty Relation) has been belonging to this kind of concepts: Due to Heisenberg, specific measurement parameters such as position and momentum cannot be determined at the same time exactly; if the position is measured, the momentum blurs and vice versa. My project aimed on a scientifically informed study, making use of the methods of literary criticism and cultural history and focusing the concept of 'Unschärfe' from different perspectives. By investigating the papers and documents as well as published works of quantum physicists such as Erwin Schrödinger in detail, it could be shown that 'Unschärfe' did not only play a decisive role in quantum physics. 'Unschärfe' (by rhetorical means) plays a pivotal role within the process of transferring complex mathematical formulas into every-day language, even being the precondition for the attractiveness of quantum theory to other fields. Focusing 'Unschärfe' in the works of quantum physicists from a perspective of literary criticism and contextualizing 'Unschärfe' within early 20th century debates, my project provided an innovative approach on the cultural history of modern physics. Shedding light on a specific facet, it contributed to a better understanding of the development of quantum theory.