The Copenhagen interpretation, proposed by Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in the 1920s, is a framework for understanding quantum mechanics. It states that the act of observation or measurement causes a collapse of the wave function, determining the outcome of a quantum system. This means that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously until they are observed.
The ontological interpretation, also known as the Bohmian interpretation, was proposed by David Bohm in the 1950s as an alternative to the Copenhagen interpretation. It posits that particles have definite, objective properties at all times, regardless of observation. The wave function is seen as a guiding field that determines the behavior of particles.
The main difference between the two interpretations is their explanation of the behavior of particles. The Copenhagen interpretation sees particles as having probabilistic behavior and their properties being determined by observation. The ontological interpretation, on the other hand, sees particles as having definite properties at all times, with their behavior being determined by a guiding field.
The Copenhagen interpretation is the most widely accepted interpretation of quantum mechanics. However, there is no consensus among scientists and the debate between the two interpretations continues.
There are ongoing experiments that aim to test the predictions of both interpretations. These include the delayed-choice quantum eraser experiment and the double-slit experiment. However, it is still a topic of debate whether these experiments can definitively prove one interpretation over the other.