scholarly journals Relational quantum mechanics

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1637-1678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Rovelli
2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Oldofredi

AbstractThe present essay provides a new metaphysical interpretation of Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) in terms of mereological bundle theory. The essential idea is to claim that a physical system in RQM can be defined as a mereological fusion of properties whose values may vary for different observers. Abandoning the Aristotelian tradition centered on the notion of substance, I claim that RQM embraces an ontology of properties that finds its roots in the heritage of David Hume. To this regard, defining what kind of concrete physical objects populate the world according to RQM, I argue that this theoretical framework can be made compatible with (i) a property-oriented ontology, in which the notion of object can be easily defined, and (ii) moderate structural realism, a philosophical position where relations and relata are both fundamental. Finally, I conclude that under this reading relational quantum mechanics should be included among the full-fledged realist interpretations of quantum theory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Martin-Dussaud ◽  
C. Rovelli ◽  
F. Zalamea

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1092-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Trassinelli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhao M. Yang

Abstract Relational formulation of quantum mechanics is based on the idea that relational properties among quantum systems, instead of the independent properties of a quantum system, are the most fundamental elements to construct quantum mechanics. In the recent works (J. M. Yang, Sci. Rep. 8:13305, 2018), basic relational quantum mechanics framework is formulated to derive quantum probability, Born's Rule, Schr\"{o}dinger Equations, and measurement theory. This paper gives a concrete implementation of the relational probability amplitude by extending the path integral formulation. The implementation not only clarifies the physical meaning of the relational probability amplitude, but also gives several important applications. For instance, the double slit experiment can be elegantly explained. A path integral representation of the reduced density matrix of the observed system can be derived. Such representation is shown valuable to describe the interaction history of the measured system and a series of measuring systems. More interestingly, it allows us to develop a method to calculate entanglement entropy based on path integral and influence functional. Criteria of entanglement is proposed based on the properties of influence functional, which may be used to determine entanglement due to interaction between a quantum system and a classical field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Oldofredi ◽  
Caludio Calosi

AbstractAccording to Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) the wave function $$\psi$$ ψ is considered neither a concrete physical item evolving in spacetime, nor an object representing the absolute state of a certain quantum system. In this interpretative framework, $$\psi$$ ψ is defined as a computational device encoding observers’ information; hence, RQM offers a somewhat epistemic view of the wave function. This perspective seems to be at odds with the PBR theorem, a formal result excluding that wave functions represent knowledge of an underlying reality described by some ontic state. In this paper we argue that RQM is not affected by the conclusions of PBR’s argument; consequently, the alleged inconsistency can be dissolved. To do that, we will thoroughly discuss the very foundations of the PBR theorem, i.e. Harrigan and Spekkens’ categorization of ontological models, showing that their implicit assumptions about the nature of the ontic state are incompatible with the main tenets of RQM. Then, we will ask whether it is possible to derive a relational PBR-type result, answering in the negative. This conclusion shows some limitations of this theorem not yet discussed in the literature.


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