The Ithaca interpretation of quantum mechanics

I list several strong requirements for what I would consider a sensible interpretation of quantum mechanics and discuss two simple recent theorems which have important implications for such an interpretation. My talk will not clear everything up; indeed, you may conclude that it has not cleared anything up. But I hope it will provide a different perspective from which to view some old and vexing puzzles (or, if you believe nothing needs to be cleared up, some ancient verities.)     

Langevin formulation of quantum mechanics

Summary We present in a rather pedagogical way a new formulation of quantum mechanics. Our starting point is the path integral representation of the quantum-mechanical propagator analytically continued to imaginary timeW(X″, s″|X′, s′). We view the set of random paths contributing toW(X″, s″|X′, s′) as the manifold of solutions of a Langevin equation with a Gaussian white noise. We thus obtainW(X″, s″|X′, s′) as the noise-average of a suitable functional of the solution of the Langevin equation. The standard quantum-mechanical propagator is finally recovered by analytically continuingW(X″, s″|X′, s′) back to real time. The present approach allows for a straightforward application of standard methods of classical stochastic processes to quantum-mechanical problems and offers a new promising way to perform computer simulations of quantum-dynamical systems. To speed up publication, the author has agreed not to receive proofs which have been supervised by the Scientific Committee.     

Decoherence in quantum mechanics

We study decoherence in a simple quantum mechanical model using two approaches. Firstly, we follow the conventional approach to decoherence where one is interested in solving the reduced density matrix from the perturbative master equation. Secondly, we consider our novel correlator approach to decoherence where entropy is generated by neglecting observationally inaccessible correlators. We show that both methods can accurately predict decoherence time scales. However, the perturbative master equation generically suffers from instabilities which prevents us to reliably calculate the system’s total entropy increase. We also discuss the relevance of the results in our quantum mechanical model for interacting field theories.     

The Wigner function in the relativistic quantum mechanics

A detailed study is presented of the relativistic Wigner function for a quantum spinless particle evolving in time according to the Salpeter equation.     

Graph reconstruction and quantum statistical mechanics

We study how far it is possible to reconstruct a graph from various Banach algebras associated to its universal covering, and extensions thereof to quantum statistical mechanical systems. It turns out that most the boundary operator algebras reconstruct only topological information, but the statistical mechanical point of view allows for complete reconstruction of multigraphs with minimal degree three.     

About the notion of truth in quantum mechanics

The meaning of truth in quantum mechanics is considered in order to respond to some objections raised by B. d'Espagnat against a logical interpretation of quantum mechanics recently proposed by the author. A complete answer is given. It is shown that not only can factual data be said to be true, but also some of their logical consequences, so that the definition of truth given by Heisenberg is both extended and refined. Some nontrue but reliable propositions may also be used, but they are somewhat arbitrary because of the complementarity principle. For instance, the propositions expressing wave packet reduction can be either true or reliable, according to the case under study. Separability is also discussed: as far as the true properties of an individual system are concerned, quantum mechanics is separable.     

Energy level crossings in quantum mechanics

From the eigenvalue equationH \ _n () =E _n ()\ _n () withH H ₀ +V one can derive an autonomous system of first order differential equations for the eigenvaluesE _n () and the matrix elementsV _mn () where is the independent variable. To solve the dynamical system we need the initial valuesE _n ( = 0) and \ _n ( = 0). Thus one finds the motion of the energy levelsE _n (). We discuss the question of energy level crossing. Furthermore we describe the connection with the stationary state perturbation theory. The dependence of the survival probability as well as some thermodynamic quantities on is derived. This means we calculate the differential equations which these quantities obey. Finally we derive the equations of motion for the extended caseH =H ₀ +V ₁ + ² V ₂ and give an application to a supersymmetric Hamiltonian.     

On the geometrization of quantum mechanics

Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics is commonly formulated in terms of wavefunctions (probability amplitudes) obeying the static and the time-dependent Schrödinger equations (SE). Despite the success of this representation of the quantum world a wave–particle duality concept is required to reconcile the theory with observations (experimental measurements). A first solution to this dichotomy was introduced in the de Broglie–Bohm theory according to which a pilot-wave (solution of the SE) is guiding the evolution of particle trajectories. Here, I propose a geometrization of quantum mechanics that describes the time evolution of particles as geodesic lines in a curved space, whose curvature is induced by the quantum potential. This formulation allows therefore the incorporation of all quantum effects into the geometry of space–time, as it is the case for gravitation in the general relativity.     

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.     

The thermal Green functions in nonextensive quantum statistical mechanics

The thermal Green functions of the quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillator are constructed within the framework of nonextensive statistical mechanics with normalized q -expectation values. For the Tsallis index q greater than unity, these functions are found to be expressed analytically in terms of the Hurwitz zeta function. It is found that influence of the nonextensivity on the time-ordered thermal propagator is relevant only at the “on-shell” states. In particular, the finite-temperature contribution to the thermal propagator becomes enhanced for the strong nonextensivity. Received 30 September 1998     

Canonical transformations in quantum mechanics

This paper presents the general theory of canonical transformations of coordinates in quantum mechanics. First, the theory is developed in the formalism of phase space quantum mechanics. It is shown that by transforming a star-product, when passing to a new coordinate system, observables and states transform as in classical mechanics, i.e., by composing them with a transformation of coordinates. Then the developed formalism of coordinate transformations is transferred to a standard formulation of quantum mechanics. In addition, the developed theory is illustrated on examples of particular classes of quantum canonical transformations.     

The quantum potential and signalling in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment

According to the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, one can precisely define the state of an individual particle in a many-body system by its position, momentum, and spin. It is shown in the EPR spin experiment that the quantum torque brings about an instantaneous change in the state of one of the particles when the other undergoes a local interaction, but that such a transfer of information cannot be extracted by any experiment subject to the laws of quantum mechanics.Dedicated to David Bohm on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

量子力学虚拟实验的MATLAB演示

量子力学是一门较抽象的科学.为了更直观、形象地展示量子力学中的一些物理原理和实验现象,本文利用MAT-LAB软件搭建了一个量子力学的虚拟演示平台,可以生动地演示电子双缝衍射、量子隧穿效应、氢原子电子云和斯塔克效应等现象.通过相关物理参数的输入以及物理现象的演示,可以使学生在量子力学的学习中获得更直观的教学感受.     

Quantum Hamilton mechanics: Hamilton equations of quantum motion, origin of quantum operators, and proof of quantization axiom

This paper gives a thorough investigation on formulating and solving quantum problems by extended analytical mechanics that extends canonical variables to complex domain. With this complex extension, we show that quantum mechanics becomes a part of analytical mechanics and hence can be treated integrally with classical mechanics. Complex canonical variables are governed by Hamilton equations of motion, which can be derived naturally from Schrödinger equation. Using complex canonical variables, a formal proof of the quantization axiom p → pˆ = −i, which is the kernel in constructing quantum-mechanical systems, becomes a one-line corollary of Hamilton mechanics. The derivation of quantum operators from Hamilton mechanics is coordinate independent and thus allows us to derive quantum operators directly under any coordinate system without transforming back to Cartesian coordinates. Besides deriving quantum operators, we also show that the various prominent quantum effects, such as quantization, tunneling, atomic shell structure, Aharonov–Bohm effect, and spin, all have the root in Hamilton mechanics and can be described entirely by Hamilton equations of motion.     

Analysis of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment by relativistic quantum logic

The EPR experiment is investigated within the abstract language of relativistic quantum physics (relativistic quantum logic). First we show that the principles of reality (R) and locality (L) contradict the validity principle (Q) of quantum physics. A reformulation of this argument is then given in terms of relativistic quantum logic which is based on the principlesR andQ. It is shown that the principleL must be replaced by a convenient relaxation ¯L, by which the contradiction can be eliminated. On the other hand this weak locality principle ¯L does not contradict Einstein causality and is thus in accordance with special relativity.     

Logical foundation of quantum mechanics

The subject of this article is the reconstruction of quantum mechanics on the basis of a formal language of quantum mechanical propositions. During recent years, research in the foundations of the language of science has given rise to adialogic semantics that is adequate in the case of a formal language for quantum physics. The system ofsequential logic which is comprised by the language is more general than classical logic; it includes the classical system as a special case. Although the system of sequential logic can be founded without reference to the empirical content of quantum physical propositions, it establishes an essential part of the structure of the mathematical formalism used in quantum mechanics. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate the connection between the formal language of quantum physics and its representation by mathematical structures in a self-contained way.