Everett branch

English

Etymology

Named after American physicist Hugh Everett III, who proposed the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics in 1957.

Noun

Everett branch (plural Everett branches)

1. (quantum mechanics) A particular sequence of wavefunction collapses, which, according to the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, corresponds to a particular universe.
   • 1993 August 6, Justin Smith, “Possible worlds and Everett's worlds”, in sci.physics‎^[1] (Usenet):

     This discussion is fascinating because I used to be acquainted with some philosophers who were trying to use Everett's theory as a way to give a `rigorous' meaning to `possible'. In other words, a world is possible if there exists a causal chain of Everett branches connecting it with our world.