Many-times formalism and Coulomb interaction

We extend here the many-times formalism, formerly used mainly for particles moving in given classical fields, to interacting particles. In order to minimize the difficulties associated with an equal-time interaction, we limit ourselves to nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and a two-particle interaction, such as that corresponding to the Coulomb force between charged particles. We obtain a set of differential equations which are really not consistent, but they serve as a guide to a formulation in terms of integral equations that has the same perturbation expansion as the usual theory for the scattering of particles. The integral equation for two-particle amplitudes can be modified to give the correct theory for bound states, but this is not the case for more than two particles. We expect that this theory can be generalized to a formulation of relativistic quantum mechanics of interacting particles.     

Stochastic interpretations of nonrelativistic quantum theory

A critique of the causla and classical stochastic interpretations of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics is presented. The only way that the classical stochastic formulation can be made compatible with the theory of quantum measurement is to extend the probability measure density for fluctuating paths to the complex domain. In doing so, we obtain the generalized stochiastic formulation in which the methods of classical probability theory can be used to describe the quantum mechanical phenomenon of interfering alternatives. Illustrative examples from quantum theory are used to show the complete compatibility between the traditional and generalized stochastic interpretations of quantum mechanics. Work supported in part by a contribution from the CNR.     

Quantum histories without contrary inferences

In the consistent histories formulation of quantum theory it was shown that it is possible to retrodict contrary properties. We show that this problem do not appear in our formalism of generalized contexts for quantum histories.     

Classical approach to quantum theory

A formulation of nonrelativistic, spinless, quantum mechanics is presented which is based on four postulates. Three of the postulates are very analogous to relations that hold in an operator formulation of classical mechanics, and the fourth is that the wave function evolves linearly in time. The conventional statistical assertions of quantum theory as well as the Schrödinger equation are recovered.     

Decoherent Histories and Realism

We reconsider the decoherent histories approach to quantum mechanics and analyze some problems related to its interpretation which we believe have not been adequately clarified by its proponents. We put forward some assumptions which, in our opinion, are necessary for a realistic interpretation of the probabilities that the formalism attaches to decoherent histories. We prove that such assumptions, unless one limits the set of the decoherent families which can be taken into account, lead to a logical contradiction. The line of reasoning we follow is conceptually different from other arguments which have been presented and which have been rejected by the supporters of the decoherent histories approach. The conclusion is that the decoherent histories approach, to be considered as an interesting realistic alternative to the orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics, requires the identification of a mathematically precise criterion to characterize an appropriate set of decoherent families which does not give rise to any problem.     

A new interpretation of quantum mechanics and its consequences in epistemology

A rather recent interpretation of quantum mechanics, known under the various names of consistent histories, decohering histories, or logical interpretation, has brought interpretation into a standard deductive theory and is now investigated in many places. A key difference with the Copenhagen interpretation is the status of classical physics, now derived completely from quantum principles in both its dynamical and logical aspects. After describing briefly this new interpretation in its essentials, leaving aside technical details, it is shown how its consequences in epistemology differ drastically from the familiar outcomes of the Copenhagen interpretation, leading in particular to a well-defined theory of knowledge. Some more speculative philosophical consequences associated with the unsolved problem of actuality are also mentioned.     

Consistent Quantum Realism: A Reply to Bassi and Ghirardi

A recent claim by Bassi and Ghirardi that the consistent (decoherent) histories approach cannot provide a realistic interpretation of quantum theory is shown to be based upon a misunderstanding of the single-framework rule: they have replaced the correct rule with a principle which directly contradicts it. It is their assumptions, not those of the consistent histories approach, which lead to a logical contradiction.     

Causal independence

Causal independence of the simultaneous positions and momenta of two distinguishable particles in nonrelativistic physics and causal independence of events in two relatively spacelike regions of space-time in relativity are analyzed and discussed. This review paper formulates causal independence in a general and operational way and summarizes the inferences drawn from it in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, classical relativistic point mechanics, quantum field theory, and classical field theory. Special attention is given to the open question of the relationship between local independence and commutativity in quantum field theory.Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

On the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics

We review the consistent histories formulations of quantum mechanics developed by Griffiths, Omnès, and Gell-Mann and Hartle, and describe the classification of consistent sets. We illustrate some general features of consistent sets by a few simple lemmas and examples. We consider various interpretations of the formalism, and examine the new problems which arise in reconstructing the past and predicting the future. It is shown that Omnès' characterization of true statements—statements which can be deduced unconditionally in his interpretation—is incorrect. We examine critically Gell-Mann and Hartle's interpretation of the formalism, and in particular their discussions of communication, prediction, and retrodiction, and conclude that their explanation of the apparent persistence of quasiclassicality relies on assumptions about an as-yetunknown theory of experience. Our overall conclusion is that the consistent histories approach illustrates the need to supplement quantum mechanics by some selection principle in order to produce a fundamental theory capable of unconditional predictions.     

What is Quantum Mechanics? A Minimal Formulation

This paper presents a minimal formulation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, by which is meant a formulation which describes the theory in a succinct, self-contained, clear, unambiguous and of course correct manner. The bulk of the presentation is the so-called “microscopic theory”, applicable to any closed system S of arbitrary size N, using concepts referring to S alone, without resort to external apparatus or external agents. An example of a similar minimal microscopic theory is the standard formulation of classical mechanics, which serves as the template for a minimal quantum theory. The only substantive assumption required is the replacement of the classical Euclidean phase space by Hilbert space in the quantum case, with the attendant all-important phenomenon of quantum incompatibility. Two fundamental theorems of Hilbert space, the Kochen–Specker–Bell theorem and Gleason’s theorem, then lead inevitably to the well-known Born probability rule. For both classical and quantum mechanics, questions of physical implementation and experimental verification of the predictions of the theories are the domain of the macroscopic theory, which is argued to be a special case or application of the more general microscopic theory.     

Quantum Theory Without Hilbert Spaces

Quantum theory does not only predict probabilities, but also relative phases for any experiment, that involves measurements of an ensemble of systems at different moments of time. We argue, that any operational formulation of quantum theory needs an algebra of observables and an object that incorporates the information about relative phases and probabilities. The latter is the (de)coherence functional, introduced by the consistent histories approach to quantum theory. The acceptance of relative phases as a primitive ingredient of any quantum theory, liberates us from the need to use a Hilbert space and non-commutative observables. It is shown, that quantum phenomena are adequately described by a theory of relative phases and non-additive probabilities on the classical phase space. The only difference lies on the type of observables that correspond to sharp measurements. This class of theories does not suffer from the consequences of Bell's theorem (it is not a theory of Kolmogorov probabilities) and Kochen–Specker's theorem (it has distributive logic). We discuss its predictability properties, the meaning of the classical limit and attempt to see if it can be experimentally distinguished from standard quantum theory. Our construction is operational and statistical, in the spirit of Copenhagen, but makes plausible the existence of a realist, geometric theory for individual quantum systems.     

The reality and dimension of space and the complexity of quantum mechanics

The dimension (and signature) of space is a result of distances being real numbers and quantum mechanical state functions being complex ones; it is an inescapable consequence of quantum mechanics and group theory. So nonrelativistic quantum mechanics cannot be complete (it requiresad hoc additional assumptions) and consistent (nor can classical physics), leading to relativity, quantum mechanics, and field theory. Implications of the constraints of consistency and physical reasonableness and of group theory for the structure of these theories are considered. It appears that there are simple, perhaps unavoidable reasons for the laws of physics, the nature of the world they describe, and the space in which they act.     

Optimal measurements for general quantum systems

We give a general formulation of the theory of optimal quantum measurements, based on Gudder's [8] convex structure approaches to axiomatic quantum mechanics, which includes the case of Holevo's formulation [14] and operational quantum mechanics [3]. Simple and general conditions for existence of Bayes optimal measurements are obtained by a method without operator valued measure techniques. For this purpose, a representation of convex prestructures and a characterization of a class of loss functions are obtained. Finally, an application of the results to Wald's theory of statistical decision functions is shown.     

Relativistic quantum mechanics over stochastic phase space

Stochastic quantum mechanics is a quantum theory in which the basic limitations of real-world measuring instruments, due to their intrinsically quantum nature, are taken into account. Among other things this leads to a new operational definition of space-time, called quantum space-time. Fundamental to this approach is the formulation of quantum mechanics over phase space rather than just over position or momentum space. A concept of extended particle is a natural outgrowth of this development. Gauge and internal symmetry have a natural place within the theory, and preliminary computations combining some old ideas due to Born with more recent ideas on symmetry breaking suggest that the theory could lead to a mass formula compatible with known data on the low-lying baryons.Supported in part by NSERC Grant, No. A8403.     

Quantum Theory as a Relevant Framework for the Statement of Probabilistic and Many-Valued Logic

Based on ideas of quantum theory of open systems we propose the consistent approach to the formulation of logic of plausible propositions. To this end we associate with every plausible proposition diagonal matrix of its likelihood and examine it as density matrix of relevant quantum system. We are showing that all logical connectives between plausible propositions can be represented as special positive valued transformations of these matrices. We demonstrate also the above transformations can be realized in relevant composite quantum systems by quantum engineering methods. The approach proposed allows one not only to reproduce and generalize results of well-known logical systems (Boolean, Lukasiewicz and so on) but also to classify and analyze from unified point of view various actual problems in psychophysics and social sciences.