Semantic incompleteness of quantum physics and EPR-like paradoxes

In the approach to quantum physics (QP) forwarded by the author ana priori formalization of the observative language of the theory is yielded. It is shown here that this formalization allows one to avoid both ontological realism and verificationism, which are the philosophically opposed positions that are usually assumed in the debate on the paradoxes that seem to follow from the analysis of the Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) thought experiment. Some recent results are summarized (in particular, the semantical incompleteness of QP) obtained by the author in the framework of the aforesaid approach, and it is shown that they can be used in order to deal with some EPR-like paradoxes. Thus one can legitimately affirm that at least some of them can be a consequence of semantical ambiguities and of the acceptance of a philosophical dichotomy which is not logically unavoidable.     

The theoretical apparatus of semantic realism: A new language for classical and quantum physics

The standard interpretation of quantum physics (QP) and some recent generalizations of this theory rest on the adoption of a rerificationist theory of truth and meaning, while most proposals for modifying and interpreting QP in a realistic way attribute an ontological status to theoretical physical entities (ontological realism). Both terms of this dichotomy are criticizable, and many quantum paradoxes can be attributed to it. We discuss a new viewpoint in this paper (semantic realism, or briefly SR), which applies both to classical physics (CP) and to QP. and is characterized by the attempt of giving up verificationism without adopting ontological realism. As a first step, we construct a formalized observative language L endowed with a correspondence truth theory. Then, we state a set of axioms by means of L which hold both in CP and in QP. and construct a further language L_v which can express bothtestable andtheoretical properties of a given physical system. The concepts ofmeaning andtestability do not collapse in L and L_e hence we can distinguish between semantic and pragmatic compatibility of physical properties and define the concepts of testability and conjoint testability of statements of L and L_e. In this context a new metatheoretical principle (MGP) is stated, which limits the validity of empirical physical laws. By applying SR (in particular. MGP) to QP, one can interpret quantum logic as a theory of testability in QP, show that QP is semantically incomplete, and invalidate the widespread claim that contextuality is unavoidable in QP. Furthermore. SR introduces some changes in the conventional interpretation of ideal measurements and Heisenbergs uncertainty principle.     

Massey products,A∞-algebras,differential equations,and Chekanov homology

We consider (classical and generalized) Massey products on the Chekanov homology of a Legendrian knot, and we prove that they are invariant under Legendrian isotopies. We also construct a minimal A_∞-algebra structure on the Chekanov algebra of a Legendrian knot, we prove that this structure is invariant under Legendrian isotopy, and we observe that its higher multiplications allow us to find representatives for classical Massey products. Finally, we consider differential equations: we remark that the Massey product Legendrian invariants admit a “dynamical interpretation”, in the sense that they provide solutions for a Maurer-Cartan equation posed on an infinite-dimensional bigraded Lie algebra, and we show how to set up and solve a (twisted) Kadomtsev-Petviashvili hierarchy of equations starting from the Chekanov algebra of a Legendrian knot.     

Riemann surfaces,Clifford algebras and infinite dimensional groups

We consider functionals on one dimensional subshifts which have prescribed Randon-Nikodym derivative under transportation by conjugating homeomorphisms, and investigate their relation to Ruelle's transfer operator. In particular we show that two-sided functionals essentially are products of a functional which are supported on stable and unstable leaves. We also prove the meromorphicity of the Fourier transform of correlation functions for AxiomA follows in a more general setting.     

{\mathbb{Z}}-Actions on AH Algebras and {\mathbb{Z}^2}-Actions on AF Algebras

We consider \mathbbZ{\mathbb{Z}}-actions (single automorphisms) on a unital simple AH algebra with real rank zero and slow dimension growth and show that the uniform outerness implies the Rohlin property under some technical assumptions. Moreover, two \mathbbZ{\mathbb{Z}}-actions with the Rohlin property on such a C*-algebra are shown to be cocycle conjugate if they are asymptotically unitarily equivalent. We also prove that locally approximately inner and uniformly outer \mathbbZ²{\mathbb{Z}^2}-actions on a unital simple AF algebra with a unique trace have the Rohlin property and classify them up to cocycle conjugacy employing the OrderExt group as classification invariants.     

Semantic incompleteness of quantum physics

We discuss the completeness of quantum physics (QP) from a nonrealistic viewpoint. To this end we make use of the formalized languageL for QP that we introduced in a recent paper and show that QP is incomplete both in an intuitive sense and in a more formal logical sense. We also show that a pure state is not physically equivalent to the physical property which characterizes it in QP, and that the set of all properties whose truth value can be predicted for a physical object in the stateS coincides with the set of all properties which are certainly true or certainly false inS. These results lead us to introduce a notion of compatibility between states which can be applied to the EPR experiment, in order to prove that no quantum paradox follows from it if our interpretation of states and physical properties is accepted.     

Pragmatic versus semantic contextuality in quantum physics

An approach to quantum physics (QP) is proposed that is characterized by the attempt to give up the verificationist theory of truth underlying the standard interpretation of QP. As a first step, anobservatively minimal language L is constructed that is endowed with a Tarskian truth theory. Then, a set of axioms is stated by means of L that hold both in classical physics and in QP, and the further language L_e of all properties is constructed. The concepts ofmeaning andtestability do not collapse in L and L_e, hence quantum logic is interpreted as a theory of testability in QP, and QP turns out to be semantically incomplete. Furthermore, semantic and pragmatic compatibility of physical properties are distinguished in L_e, and the concepts of testability and conjoint testability of statements are introduced. In this context some known quantum paradoxes can be avoided, and a new general principle (MGP) characterizes the truth mode of empirical physical laws. MGP invalidates the Bell theorem and, presumably, the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem, and introduces apragmatic contextuality in QP in place of thesemantic contextuality that should occur because of these theorems.     

Discrete Polynuclear Growth and Determinantal Processes

We consider a discrete polynuclear growth (PNG) process and prove a functional limit theorem for its convergence to the Airy process. This generalizes previous results by Prähofer and Spohn. The result enables us to express the F ₁ GOE Tracy- Widom distribution in terms of the Airy process. We also show some results, and give a conjecture, about the transversal fluctuations in a point to line last passage percolation problem. Furthermore we discuss a rather general class of measures given by products of determinants and show that these measures have determinantal correlation functions.     

Self-Similar Asymptotics for the Boltzmann Equation with Inelastic and Elastic Interactions

We consider some questions related to the self-similar asymptotics in the kinetic theory of both elastic and inelastic particles. In the second case we have in mind granular materials, when the model of hard spheres with inelastic collisions is replaced by a Maxwell model, characterized by a collision frequency independent of the relative speed of the colliding particles. We first discuss how to define the n-dimensional (n = 1,2,...) inelastic Maxwell model and its connection with the more basic Boltzmann equation for inelastic hard spheres. Then we consider both elastic and inelastic Maxwell models from a unified viewpoint. We prove the existence of (positive in the inelastic case) self-similar solutions with finite energy and investigate their role in large time asymptotics. It is proved that a recent conjecture by Ernst and Brito devoted to high energy tails for inelastic Maxwell particles is true for a certain class of initial data which includes Maxwellians. We also prove that the self-similar asymptotics for high energies is typical for some classes of solutions of the classical (elastic) Boltzmann equation for Maxwell molecules. New classes of (not necessarily positive) finite-energy eternal solutions of this equation are also studied.     

Survival,Extinction and Approximation of Discrete-time Branching Random Walks

We consider a general discrete-time branching random walk on a countable set X. We relate local, strong local and global survival with suitable inequalities involving the first-moment matrix M of the process. In particular we prove that, while the local behavior is characterized by M, the global behavior cannot be completely described in terms of properties involving M alone. Moreover we show that locally surviving branching random walks can be approximated by sequences of spatially confined and stochastically dominated branching random walks which eventually survive locally if the (possibly finite) state space is large enough. An analogous result can be achieved by approximating a branching random walk by a sequence of multitype contact processes and allowing a sufficiently large number of particles per site. We compare these results with the ones obtained in the continuous-time case and we give some examples and counterexamples.     

Introduction to the Special Issue on Pioneers in Synchrotron Radiation

We consider ourselves honored to have been asked to serve as guest editors for this special issue of SRN, which focuses on personal stories from some of the people who worked with synchrotron radiation (SR) in the 1960s and early 1970s. This special edition of SRN gave us an opportunity to contact and exchange stories with many of our former colleagues and friends, and the exercise brought back many happy memories for both of us, including interacting again with each other. We recalled that we first saw synchrotron light in 1962 (HW) and 1973 (GPW), and we also remembered how exciting it was to be in this field in the early days.     

Phase Transitions with Four-Spin Interactions

Using an extended Lee-Yang theorem and GKS correlation inequalities, we prove, for a class of ferromagnetic multi-spin interactions, that they will have a phase transition (and spontaneous magnetization) if, and only if, the external field h = 0 (and the temperature is low enough). We also show the absence of phase transitions for some nonferromagnetic interactions. The FKG inequalities are shown to hold for a larger class of multi-spin interactions.     

Ergodic systems ofn balls in a billiard table

We consider the motion ofn balls in billiard tables of a special form and we prove that the resulting dynamical systems are ergodic on a constant energy surface; in fact, they enjoy theK-property. These are the first systems of interacting particles proven to be ergodic for an arbitrary number of particles.     

Dilute antiferromagnets: Imry-Ma argument,hierarchical model,and equivalence to random field Ising models

We discuss some aspects of the problem of the equivalence of dilute antiferromagnets and random field Ising models. We first investigate for dilute antiferromagnets the validity of the arguments of Imry and Ma. It turns out that they are applicable, but some care is required concerning the role played by the so-called internal Peierls contours. Next we consider a hierarchical version of a dilute antiferromagnetic Ising model in the presence of a uniform magnetic field and show that a renormalization group transformation maps it exactly into a hierarchical version of the random field Ising model, thus proving their equivalence as far as the critical behavior is concerned. In particular this implies that phase transition with spontaneous magnetization occurs only for dimensiond>2. Finally we show that in the absence of internal Peierls contours both models, in their hierarchical versions, exhibit phase transition already in dimensiond=2.     

Kerr–Schild Symmetries

We study continuous groups of generalized Kerr–Schild transformations and the vector fields that generate them in any n-dimensional manifold with a Lorentzian metric. We prove that all these vector fields can be intrinsically characterized and that they constitute a Lie algebra if the null deformation direction is fixed. The properties of these Lie algebras are briefly analyzed and we show that they are generically finite-dimensional but that they may have infinite dimension in some relevant situations. The most general vector fields of the above type are explicitly constructed for the following cases: any two-dimensional metric, the general spherically symmetric metric and deformation direction, and the flat metric with parallel or cylindrical deformation directions.     

Strong decay to equilibrium in one-dimensional random spin systems

We consider a spin system on a lattice with finite-range, possibly unbounded random interactions. We show that for such systems the Glauber dynamics cannot decay to equilibrium exponentially fast inL ₂ even at high temperatures. Additionally, for one-dimensional systems with unbounded random couplings we prove that with probability one the corresponding Glauber dynamics has a fast (subexponential) decay to equilibrium in the uniform norm, provided that the distribution of random couplings satisfies some exponential bound.     

Vacuum type N space-times admitting homothetic vector fields with isolated fixed points

We consider vacuum space-times (M, g) which are of Petrov type N on an open dense subset ofM, and which admit (proper) homothetic vector fields with isolated fixed points. We prove that if such is the case then, at the fixed point, (M,g) is flat and the homothetic bivector,X _[a;b] , is necessarily simple-timelike. Furthermore, we prove that if the homothetic bivector remains simple-timelike in some neighbourhood of the fixed point then, around the fixed point, the space-time in question is a pp-wave. The paper ends with a local characterization and some examples of space-tunes satisfying these conditions.     

Almost-Sure Central Limit Theorem for Directed Polymers and Random Corrections

We consider a general model of directed polymers on the lattice , weakly coupled to a random environment. We prove that the central limit theorem holds almost surely for the discrete time random walk X _T associated to the polymer. Moreover we show that the random corrections to the cumulants of X _T are finite, starting from some dimension depending on the index of the cumulants, and that there are corresponding random corrections of order , , in the asymptotic expansion of the expectations of smooth functions of X _T . Full proofs are carried out for the first two cumulants. We finally prove a kind of local theorem showing that the ratio of the probabilities of the events to the corresponding probabilities with no randomness, in the region of “moderate” deviations from the average drift bT, are, for almost all choices of the environment, uniformly close, as , to a functional of the environment “as seen from (T,y)$”. Received: 14 October 1996 / Accepted: 28 March 1997     

Approach to equilibrium of Glauber dynamics in the one phase region

Various finite volume mixing conditions in classical statistical mechanics are reviewed and critically analyzed. In particular somefinite size conditions are discussed, together with their implications for the Gibbs measures and for the approach to equilibrium of Glauber dynamics inarbitrarily large volumes. It is shown that Dobrushin-Shlosman's theory ofcomplete analyticity and its dynamical counterpart due to Stroock and Zegarlinski, cannot be applied, in general, to the whole one phase region since it requires mixing properties for regions ofarbitrary shape. An alternative approach, based on previous ideas of Oliveri, and Picco, is developed, which allows to establish results on rapid approach to equilibrium deeply inside the one phase region. In particular, in the ferromagnetic case, we considerably improve some previous results by Holley and Aizenman and Holley. Our results are optimal in the sene that, for example, they show for the first time fast convergence of the dynamicsfor any temperature above the critical one for thed-dimensional Ising model with or without an external field. In part II we extensively consider the general case (not necessarily attractive) and we develop a new method, based on renormalizations group ideas and on an assumption of strong mixing in a finite cube, to prove hypercontractivity of the Markov semigroup of the Glauber dynamics.Work partially supported by grant SCi-CT91-0695 of the Commission of European Communities     

A law of large numbers and a central limit theorem for the Schrödinger operator with zero-range potentials

We consider the Schrödinger operator with zero-range potentials onN points of three-dimensional space, independently chosen according to a common distributionV(x). Under some assumptions we prove that, whenN goes to infinity, the sequence converges to a Schrödinger operator with an effective potential. The fluctuations around the limit operator are explicitly characterized.