They do not describe, even in principle, how one configuration develops into another configuration.
I’m going to just clarify this point, which I disagree with as written (not strictly wrong, but it overlooks something important). You can make a minor extension to quantum mechanics that does describe how one configuration develops into another. That extension is Bohmian mechanics, which is empirically equivalent to orthodox QM.
Basically, you postulate that in addition to the wavefunction, there is a configuration, and it obeys a certain law of motion which is guided by the wavefunction (the law is “switch to the hydrodynamic formulation change of variables, use the velocity law there”).
If you additionally postulate that the initial configuration is unknown, but randomly distributed like |psi(x)|^2 dx, you completely recover quantum mechanics. Among other things, you’ll never remove the initial uncertainty in a system governed by quantum mechanics.
So in fact, quantum mechanics is fully consistent with the existence of a single configuration.
However, that configuration alone doesn’t fully determine the future; you still need the wavefunction for that.
I’m not really one of the “true believers” (some folks fanatically love it), but I find it to be extremely helpful in developing intuition/doing calculations. (Note: remove all hints of Bohmian mechanics before attempting to publish.)
I’m going to just clarify this point, which I disagree with as written (not strictly wrong, but it overlooks something important). You can make a minor extension to quantum mechanics that does describe how one configuration develops into another. That extension is Bohmian mechanics, which is empirically equivalent to orthodox QM.
Basically, you postulate that in addition to the wavefunction, there is a configuration, and it obeys a certain law of motion which is guided by the wavefunction (the law is “switch to the hydrodynamic formulation change of variables, use the velocity law there”).
If you additionally postulate that the initial configuration is unknown, but randomly distributed like |psi(x)|^2 dx, you completely recover quantum mechanics. Among other things, you’ll never remove the initial uncertainty in a system governed by quantum mechanics.
So in fact, quantum mechanics is fully consistent with the existence of a single configuration.
However, that configuration alone doesn’t fully determine the future; you still need the wavefunction for that.
I’m not really one of the “true believers” (some folks fanatically love it), but I find it to be extremely helpful in developing intuition/doing calculations. (Note: remove all hints of Bohmian mechanics before attempting to publish.)