The foundations of quantum mechanics

Starting from a set of assumptions mainly of an operational or experimentally based nature, a derivation of quantum mechanics is presented, with the aim of clarifying the essential features of the theory and their interpretation. Various properties of quantum mechanics such as the addition of amplitudes, the calculation of probabilities, de Broglie's equations, and energy-momentum conservation are derived from first principles. It is investigated whether quantum amplitudes may be constructed from quantities of higher order than complex numbers. Measurable physical quantitics, as traditionally understood, are seen to play a role distinct from and supplementary to the behavior of the quantum amplitudes themselves. This is related to two distinct aspects of the nature of time in the context of quantum mechanics.     

Measurements and mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics

A scheme for constructing quantum mechanics is given that does not have Hilbert space and linear operators as its basic elements. Instead, a version of algebraic approach is considered. Elements of a noncommutative algebra (observables) and functionals on this algebra (elementary states) associated with results of single measurements are used as primary components of the scheme. On the one hand, it is possible to use within the scheme the formalism of the standard (Kolmogorov) probability theory, and, on the other hand, it is possible to reproduce the mathematical formalism of standard quantum mechanics, and to study the limits of its applicability. A short outline is given of the necessary material from the theory of algebras and probability theory. It is described how the mathematical scheme of the paper agrees with the theory of quantum measurements, and avoids quantum paradoxes.     

Particle interactions and quantum mechanics: Mathematical foundations

This review contains chapters from the first volume of S. S. Sannikov-Proskuryakov’s collected papers. The first and the second chapters are compilations of his early publications. The four papers included in Chapters 3–7 were written during the last years of his life. The most valuable results obtained by S. S. Sannikov-Proskuryakov can be useful for deep understanding of the current status and contemporary developments of high-energy physics.     

Individual events and mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics

We describe a scheme for constructing quantum mechanics in which the Hilbert space and linear operators are only secondary structures of the theory, while the primary structures are the elements of a non-commutative algebra (observables) and the functionals on this algebra, associated with the results of a single observation.     

A constructive approach to the foundations of quantum mechanics

An axiomatic theory is formulated which describes a class of yes-no experiments, involving a fixed basic source, a fixed basic detector, and various filters. It is assumed that all filters considered can be constructed from a setP of primitive filters by composition and stochastic selection. Two physically plausible axioms are formulated which allow us to define the concept of asystem in the present context (cf. Definition2.4). To each system we can attach anorder unit module ( ) (cf. Definition5.1) whereby ( ) is acomplete, separable order unit space. Two additional axioms are proposed which have the effect that the space ( ) becomes isomorphic to the order unit space underlying a JB-algebra, at least in the case where isfinite dimensional (cf. Corollary7.9).     

Axiomatic foundations of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics: A realistic approach

A realistic axiomatic formulation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics for a single microsystem with spin is presented, from which the most important theorems of the theory can be deduced. In comparison with previous formulations, the formal aspect has been improved by the use of certain mathematical theories, such as the theory of rigged spaces, and group theory. The standard formalism is naturally obtained from the latter, starting from a central primitive concept: the Galilei group.     

Axiomatic foundations of quantum mechanics revisited: The case for systems

We present an axiomatization of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics for a system with an arbitrary number of components. The interpretation of our system of axioms is realistic and objective. The EPR paradox and its relation to realism is discussed in this framework. It is shown that there is no contradiction between realism and recent experimental results.     

Logicoalgebraic foundations of contact mechanics

The logicoalgebraic foundations of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian techniques of contact mechanics are exhibited, by starting axiomatically with a classical system whose logic is a Boolean algebra.     

Review of recent experimental progress in foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum information achieved in parametric downconversion experiments at IENGF

We review some recent experimental progress concerning foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum information obtained in the Carlo Novero Quantum Optics Laboratory at IENGF. After a short presentation of our polarization-entangled photon source (based on precise superposition of two type I PDC emissions) and of the results obtained with it, we describe in more detail an innovative double slit experiment where two degenerate photons produced by PDC are each sent to a specific slit. Beyond representing an interesting example of the relation between the visibility of interference and welcher Weg knowledge, this configuration has been suggested for testing de Broglie-Bohm theory (dBB) against standard quantum mechanics (SQM). Our results perfectly fit SQM results but disagree with dBB predictions. Then, we discuss a recent experiment addressed at clarifying the issue of which wave-particle observables are really to be considered when discussing wave-particle duality. This experiments realizes the theoretical proposal of Agarwal et al., overcoming the limitations of a previous experiment. Finally, we hint at the realization of a high-intensity high-spectral-selectivity PDC source to be used for quantum information studies.     

The utility of coherent states and other mathematical methods in the foundations of affine quantum gravity

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - Affine quantum gravity involves (i) affine commutation relations to ensure metric positivity, (ii) a regularized projection operator procedure to accommodate first-and...     

Astrogeometry: Toward mathematical foundations

Inimage processing (e.g., inastronomy), the desired black-and-white image is, from the mathematical viewpoint, aset. Hence, to process images, we need to process sets. To define a generic set, we need infinitely many parameters; therefore, if we want to represent and process sets in the computer, we must restrict ourselves to finite-parameter families of sets that will be used to approximate the desired sets. The wrong choice of a family can lead to longer computations and worse approximation. Hence, it is desirable to find the family that it isthe best in some reasonable sense. In this paper, we show how the problems of choosing the optimal family of sets can be formalized and solved. As a result of the described general methodology, forastronomical images, we get exactly the geometric shapes that have been empirically used by astronomers and astrophysicists; thus, we have atheoretical explanation for these shapes.     

The transitions among classical mechanics,quantum mechanics,and stochastic quantum mechanics

Various formalisms for recasting quantum mechanics in the framework of classical mechanics on phase space are reviewed and compared. Recent results in stochastic quantum mechanics are shown to avoid the difficulties encountered by the earlier approach of Wigner, as well as to avoid the well-known incompatibilities of relativity and ordinary quantum theory. Specific mappings among the various formalisms are given.     

Classical foundations of quantum groups

The concept of classical r matrices is developed from a purely canonical standpoint. The final purpose of this work is to bring about a synthesis between recent developments in the theory of integrable systems and the general theory of quantization as a deformation of classical mechanics. The concept of quantization algebra is here dominant; in integrable systems this is the set of dynamical variables that appear in the Lax pair. The nature of this algebra, a solvable Lie algebra in such models as the Sine-Gordon and Toda field theories but semisimple in the case of spin systems, provides a useful scheme for the classification of integrable models. A completely different classification is obtained by the nature of the r matrix employed; there are three kinds: rational, trigonometric, and elliptic. All cases are studied in detail, with numerous examples. Some of the problems connected with quantization are discussed.This paper is dedicated to my friend Asim Barut.     

Quaternionic quantum mechanics is consistent with complex quantum mechanics

Quaternionic quantum mechanics is investigated in the light of the great success of complex quantum mechanics. It is shown that to reproduce the results of complex quantum mechanics, quaternionic quantum mechanics must contain complex quantum mechanics.     

Classical foundations of quantum logic

We construct a languageL for a classical first-order predicate calculus with monadic predicates only, extended by means of a family of statistical quantifiers. Then, a formal semantic model is put forward forL which is compatible with a physical interpretation and embodies a truth theory which provides the statistical quantifiers with properties that fit their interpretation; in this framework, the truth mode of physical laws is suitably characterized and a probability-frequency correlation principle is established. By making use ofL and , a set of basic physical laws is stated that hold both in classical physics (CP) and in quantum physics (QP), which allow the selection of suitable subsets of primitive predicates ofL (the set _P of pure states; the sets _o and _E of operational and exact effects, respectively) and the introduction on these subsets of binary relations (a preclusion relation # on _P , an order relation < on _E . By assuming further physical laws, ( _E , <) turns out to be a complete orthocomplemented lattice [mixtures and atomicity of ( _E , <) also can be introduced by means of suitable physical assumptions]. Two languagesL _E ^x andL _E ^S are constructed that can be mapped intoL; the mapping induces on them mathematical structures, some kind of truth function, an interpretation. The formulas ofL _E ^x can be interpreted as statements about properties of a physical object, and the truth function onL _E ^x is two valued. The formulas ofL _E ^S can be endowed with two different interpretations as statements about the frequency of some physical property in some class (state) of physical objects; consequently, a two-valued truth function and a multivalued fuzzy-truth function are defined onL _E ^S . In all cases the algebras of propositions of these logics are complete orthocomplemented lattices isomorphic to ( _E , <). These results hold both in CP and in QP; further physical assumptions endow the lattice ( _E , <), henceL _E ^x andL _E/S , with further properties, such as distributivity in CP and weak modularity and covering law in QP. In the latter case,L _E ^S andL _E ^S , together with their interpretations, can be considered different models of the same basic mathematical structure, and can be identified with standard (elementary) quantum logics. These are therefore founded on the classical extended languageL with semantic model .     

Modalities and quantum mechanics

Three approaches concerning the usage of modalities in the language of quantum mechanics were considered; Mittelstaedt and I built up a dialog semantics for modalities on a metalinguistic level, and a calculus of quantum modal logic is known that is complete and sound with respect to this dialogic semantics. Van Fraassen replaced the usual interpretation of quantum mechanics (with the projection postulate) by his modal interpretation based on a modal object language. Dalla Chiara translated a nonmodal object language for quantum mechanics and the appropriate quantum logic into a modal language. Specifically we are interested in the similarities and the differences of these three approaches.