The transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics (TIQM) by Professor John Cramer is an unusual interpretation of quantum mechanics that describes quantum interactions in terms of a standing wave formed by retarded (forward in time) and advanced (backward in time) waves. The author argues that it avoids the philosophical problems with the Copenhagen interpretation and the role of the observer, and elegantly resolves various quantum paradoxes. Notably, it is claimed to be consistent with Shahriar Afshar's experiment. Fig. ... In a nontechnical sense, an interpretation of quantum mechanics is an attempt to answer the question: what exactly is quantum mechanics talking about? Quantum mechanics has been very successful in predicting experimental results. ... A standing wave, also known as a stationary wave, is a wave that remains in a constant position. ... The Copenhagen interpretation is an interpretation of quantum mechanics formulated by Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg while collaborating in Copenhagen around 1927. ... In March 2004, Shahriar S. Afshar announced at Harvard University the results of a variation on the similar two-pin-hole which-way experiment, in which he claims to have disproved Bohrs Principle of Complementarity, also reported in the July 24, 2004 edition of New Scientist. ...

The existence of both advanced and retarded waves as lawful solutions to Maxwell's equations was proposed by R. Feynman and J. Wheeler in 1945 (cited in original paper by J. Cramer). They used the idea to solve the problem of the infinite self-energy of an electron. Later they refuted the idea of back-in-time waves. Maxwells equations are the set of four equations, attributed to James Clerk Maxwell, that describe the behavior of both the electric and magnetic fields, as well as their interactions with matter. ... Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918–February 15, 1988) (surname pronounced FINE-man; in IPA) was one of the most influential American physicists of the 20th century, expanding greatly the theory of quantum electrodynamics. ... John Archibald Wheeler (born 1911) is an American theoretical physicist. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

J. Cramer revived their idea of two waves to formulate his original and elegant interpretation of quantum theory. According to TIQM, any source emits a usual (retarded) wave of half the observed amplitude, while the detector emits a corresponding advanced wave of the same half amplitude. The phases of retarded and advanced waves are correlated in such a way that these two waves interfere positively in the space-time region, corresponding to true (observed) wave propagation, and they interfere negatively in all the other space-time (i.e., before emitting point and after absorption point). To an observer, this standing wave in space-time looks as if a particle has travelled through space.

Professor Cramer uses TIQM in teaching quantum mechanics at the University of Washington in Seattle. The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a major public research university in the Seattle metropolitan area. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ...

External links

• The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (http://www.npl.washington.edu/npl/int_rep/tiqm/TI_toc.html) - John Cramer's original paper
• An Overview of the Transactional Interpretation (http://www.npl.washington.edu/npl/int_rep/ti_over/ti_over.html)
• Photon Emission (http://www.johnkharms.com/photon.htm)
• Pavel V. Kurakin, George G. Malinetskii,How bees can possibly explain quantum paradoxes (http://www.automatesintelligents.com/labo/2005/jan/bees.html), Automates Intelligents (2 février 2005). [This paper tells about a work attempting to develop TIQM further].