scholarly journals Relational Quantum Mechanics and the PBR Theorem: A Peaceful Coexistence

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Oldofredi ◽  
Caludio Calosi
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Type Result ◽  
Relational Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Formal Result ◽  
Underlying Reality ◽  
Physical Item ◽  
Interpretative Framework ◽  
Epistemic View

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.

scholarly journals The Strange (Hi)story of Particles and Waves

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-212
Author(s):  
H. Dieter Zeh
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Excited States ◽  
Configuration Space ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Quantum States ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
General Readership ◽  
Boson Fields

AbstractThis is an attempt of a non-technical but conceptually consistent presentation of quantum theory in a historical context. While the first part is written for a general readership, Section 5 may appear a bit provocative to some quantum physicists. I argue that the single-particle wave functions of quantum mechanics have to be correctly interpreted as field modes that are “occupied once” (i.e. first excited states of the corresponding quantum oscillators in the case of boson fields). Multiple excitations lead to apparent many-particle wave functions, while the quantum states proper are defined by wave function(al)s on the “configuration” space of fundamental fields, or on another, as yet elusive, fundamental local basis.

EPR Elements of Physical Reality in Quantum Mechanics

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (29) ◽  
pp. 5289-5303
Author(s):  
V. K. Thankappan ◽  
Ravi K. Menon
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Singlet State ◽  
Physical Reality ◽  
The State ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Definition Of

The concept of elements of physical reality (e.p.r.) in quantum mechanics as defined by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) is discussed in the context of the EPR–Bohm and the EPR–Bell experiments on a pair of spin 1/2 particles in the singlet state. It is argued that EPR's definition of e.p.r. is appropriate to the EPR–Bell experiment rather than to the EPR–Bohm experiment, and that Bohr's interpretation of e.p.r. is also consistent with such a viewpoint. It is shown that the observed correlation between the spins of the two particles in the EPR–Bell experiment is just a manifestation of the correlation that exists between the wave functions of the particles in the singlet state and a consequence of the fact that a Stern–Gerlach magnet does not change the state of a particle but only transforms its wave function into a representation defined by the axis of the magnet. As such, the correlation is suggested to be an affirmation of Einstein's concept of locality, and not an evidence for nonlocality.

scholarly journals The simplest possible bouncing quantum cosmological model

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (21) ◽  
pp. 1640006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Peter ◽  
Sandro D. P. Vitenti
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Cosmological Model ◽  
Functional Form ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
General Situation ◽  
Spatial Curvature ◽  
Bianchi I ◽  
Contracting Phase

We present and expand the simplest possible quantum cosmological bouncing model already discussed in previous works: the trajectory formulation of quantum mechanics applied to cosmology (through the Wheeler–De Witt equation) in the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) minisuperspace without spatial curvature. The initial conditions that were previously assumed were such that the wave function would not change its functional form but instead provide a dynamics to its parameters. Here, we consider a more general situation, in practice consisting of modified Gaussian wave functions, aiming at obtaining a nonsingular bounce from a contracting phase. Whereas previous works consistently obtain very symmetric bounces, we find that it is possible to produce highly non-symmetric solutions, and even cases for which multiple bounces naturally occur. We also introduce a means of treating the shear in this category of models by quantizing in the Bianchi I minisuperspace.

scholarly journals On the Quantum Mechanical Wave Function as a Link Between Cognition and the Physical World: A Role for Psychology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Michael Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Quantum Mechanical ◽  
Mechanical Wave ◽  
Empirical Level ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Empirical Demonstration

A straightforward explanation of fundamental tenets of quantum mechanics concerning the wave function results in the thesis that the quantum mechanical wave function is a link between human cognition and the physical world. The reticence on the part of physicists to adopt this thesis is discussed. A comparison is made to the behaviorists’ consideration of mind, and the historical roots of how the problem concerning the quantum mechanical wave function arose are discussed. The basis for an empirical demonstration that the wave function is a link between human cognition and the physical world is provided through developing an experiment using methodology from psychology and physics. Based on research in psychology and physics that relied on this methodology, it is likely that Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen’s theoretical result that mutually exclusive wave functions can simultaneously apply to the same concrete physical circumstances can be implemented on an empirical level. Original article in The Journal of Mind and Behavior is on JSTOR at https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/43853678.pdf?seq=1 . Preprint on CERN preprint server at https://cds.cern.ch/record/569426 .

scholarly journals The “noncausal causality” of quantum information

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasil Dinev Penchev
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Information ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Probability Density Distribution ◽  
Information Function ◽  
Classical Physics ◽  
Physical Description ◽  
Probabilistic Causality ◽  
Random Probability

The paper is concentrated on the special changes of the conception of causalityfrom quantum mechanics to quantum information meaning as a background the revolution implemented by the former to classical physics and science after Max Born’s probabilistic reinterpretation of wave function. Those changes can be enumerated so: (1) quantum information describes the general case of the relation of two wave functions, and particularly, the causal amendment of a single one; (2) it keeps the physical description to be causal by the conservation of quantum information and in accordance with Born’s interpretation; (3) it introduces inverse causality, “backwards in time”, observable “forwards in time” as the fundamentally random probability density distribution of all possible measurements of any physical quantity in quantum mechanics; (4) it involves a kind of “bidirectional causality” unifying (4.1) the classical determinism of cause and effect, (4.2) the probabilistic causality of quantum mechanics, and (4.3) the reversibility of any coherent state; (5) it identifies determinism with the function successor in Peano arithmetic, and its proper generalized causality with the information function successor in Hilbert arithmetic.

Unified theory of classic mechanics and quantum mechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (38) ◽  
pp. 2030022
Author(s):  
Hong-Xing Li
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Fuzzy Systems ◽  
Mass Point ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Unified Theory ◽  
Countably Infinite

In this paper, I review one of the most important and interesting parts of my new book “Fuzzy Systems to Quantum Mechanics” (see Ref. 1). Several conclusions in this part are worth introducing here. First of all, the motion of a mass point in classic mechanics has also waviness and the wave function of the motion of a mass point is composed of wave functions of countably infinite microscopic particles. Secondly, based on the waviness of the motion of a mass point we surely know the new conclusion described as the wave-mass-point dualism in classic mechanics. And thirdly, by using the closed relation between the wave-mass-point dualism in classic mechanics and the wave-particle dualism in quantum mechanics, unified theory of classic mechanics and quantum mechanics is naturally formed.

scholarly journals Quantum Implications of Non-Extensive Statistics

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana Cabo Bizet ◽  
César Damián ◽  
Octavio Obregón ◽  
Roberto Santos-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Series Solution ◽  
Semiclassical Approximation ◽  
Free Particle ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Power Series Solution ◽  
Nonlinear Quantum ◽  
Nonadditive Statistics ◽  
Q Wave

Exploring the analogy between quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics, we formulate an integrated version of the Quantropy functional. With this prescription, we compute the propagator associated to Boltzmann–Gibbs statistics in the semiclassical approximation as K=F(T)exp(iScl/ℏ). We determine also propagators associated to different nonadditive statistics; those are the entropies depending only on the probability S± and Tsallis entropy Sq. For S±, we obtain a power series solution for the probability vs. the energy, which can be analytically continued to the complex plane and employed to obtain the propagators. Our work is motivated by the work of Nobre et al. where a modified q-Schrödinger equation is obtained that provides the wave function for the free particle as a q-exponential. The modified q-propagator obtained with our method leads to the same q-wave function for that case. The procedure presented in this work allows to calculate q-wave functions in problems with interactions determining nonlinear quantum implications of nonadditive statistics. In a similar manner, the corresponding generalized wave functions associated to S± can also be constructed. The corrections to the original propagator are explicitly determined in the case of a free particle and the harmonic oscillator for which the semiclassical approximation is exact, and also the case of a particle with an infinite potential barrier is discussed.

scholarly journals The epistemic view of quantum states and the ether

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 523-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Marchildon
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
The State ◽  
Quantum States ◽  
Microscopic Object ◽  
Bohmian Trajectories ◽  
Realist Interpretation ◽  
Epistemic View

The idea that the wave function represents information, or knowledge, rather than the state of a microscopic object has been held to solve foundational problems of quantum mechanics. Realist interpretation schemes, like Bohmian trajectories, have been compared to the ether in prerelativistic theories. I argue that the comparison is inadequate, and that the epistemic view of quantum states begs the question of interpretation.PACS Nos.: 03.65.Ta, 03.50.De, 03.30.+p

A Preliminary Case for Wave Function Realism

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-48
Author(s):  
Alyssa Ney
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Physics ◽  
Measurement Problem ◽  
Wave Functions ◽  
Philosophy Of Physics ◽  
The Status ◽  
Physics Literature ◽  
Wave Function Realism

This chapter explains the use of wave functions in quantum mechanics in order to develop a preliminary argument for wave function realism, one that is commonly found in the physics and philosophy of physics literature. It distinguishes ontological questions about the status of the wave function from the more discussed measurement problem for quantum mechanics, and explains how wave function realism is an approach to ontology that is compatible with several rival solutions to the measurement problem. The chapter then presents an initial, but not ultimately decisive, argument for wave function realism based on the ubiquity of wave function representations in quantum physics.

The build of nonlinear quantum mechancs and variations of feature of microscopic particles as well as their experimental affirmation

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 871-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pang Xiao Feng
Keyword(s):  
Wave Function ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Lagrange Equation ◽  
Minimum Principle ◽  
Superposition Principle ◽  
Type Equation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Traditional Concept ◽  
Nonlinear Quantum ◽  
Nonlinear Quantum Mechanics

We establish the nonlinear quantum mechanics due to difficulties and problems of original quantum mechanics, in which microscopic particles have only a wave feature, not corpuscle feature, which are completely not consistent with experimental results and traditional concept of particle. In this theory the microscopic particles are no longer a wave, but localized and have a wave-corpuscle duality, which are represented by the following facts, the solutions of dynamic equation describing the particles have a wave-corpuscle duality, namely it consists of a mass center with constant size and carrier wave, is localized and stable and has a determinant mass, momentum and energy, which obey also generally conservation laws of motion, their motions meet both the Hamilton equation, Euler-Lagrange equation and Newton-type equation, their collision satisfies also the classical rule of collision of macroscopic particles, the uncertainty of their position and momentum is denoted by the minimum principle of uncertainty. Meanwhile the microscopic particles in this theory can both propagate in solitary wave with certain frequency and amplitude and generate reflection and transmission at the interfaces, thus they have also a wave feature, which but are different from linear and KdV solitary wave’s. Therefore the nonlinear quantum mechanics changes thoroughly the natures of microscopic particles due to the nonlinear interactions. In this investigation we gave systematically and completely the distinctions and variations between linear and nonlinear quantum mechanics, including the significances and representations of wave function and mechanical quantities, superposition principle of wave function, property of microscopic particle, eigenvalue problem, uncertainty relation and the methods solving the dynamic equations, from which we found nonlinear quantum mechanics is fully new and different from linear quantum mechanics. Finally, we verify further the correctness of properties of microscopic particles described by nonlinear quantum mechanics using the experimental results of light soliton in fiber and water soliton, which are described by same nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Thus we affirm that nonlinear quantum mechanics is correct and useful, it can be used to study the real properties of microscopic particles in physical systems.

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