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arXiv:0909.1061

Modelling Quantum Theoretical Trajectories within Geometric Relativistic Theories

Mike Stannett

Published Sep 5, 2009• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Andreka and her colleagues have described various geometrically inspired first-order theories of special and general relativity, while Szekely's PhD dissertation focuses on an intermediate logic of accelerated observers. In this paper we will attempt to incorporate a model of quantum theoretical trajectories that can reasonably claim to be physically meaningful into those theories. We have recently shown that a model of quantum trajectories, based on discrete finitary motion, is logically equivalent to Feynman's path-integral formulation when spacetime is assumed to be Euclidean. In this paper we argue that relativistic observers are subject to the same quantum illusions as in the Euclidean case: even though motion is discrete and respects no built-in 'arrow of time', observers have no choice but to perceive particle trajectories as continuous paths in spacetime. Whereas the relativistic theories presuppose continuous paths as part of their axioms, the illusion of continuity allows us to replace this axiom with a lower-level quantum-inspired axiom concerning discrete jumps in spacetime. We investigate the nature of these jumps, and how far they can be tied to the underlying geometric structure of spacetime. In particular, we consider hops which preserve features of the underlying number field, and investigate the extent to which all hops can be restricted to be of this form. We conclude that hop-based motion can also be regarded as an illusion, one caused by modelling physics in the 'wrong' number system.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.0909.1061

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Andreka and her colleagues have described various geometrically inspired first-order theories of special and general relativity, while Szekely's PhD dissertation focuses on an intermediate logic of accelerated observers. In this paper we will attempt to incorporate a model of quantum theoretical trajectories that can reasonably claim to be physically meaningful into those theories. We have recently shown that a model of quantum trajectories, based on discrete finitary motion, is logically equivalent to Feynman's path-integral formulation when spacetime is assumed to be Euclidean. In this paper we argue that relativistic observers are subject to the same quantum illusions as in the Euclidean case: even though motion is discrete and respects no built-in 'arrow of time', observers have no choice but to perceive particle trajectories as continuous paths in spacetime. Whereas the relativistic theories presuppose continuous paths as part of their axioms, the illusion of continuity allows us to replace this axiom with a lower-level quantum-inspired axiom concerning discrete jumps in spacetime. We investigate the nature of these jumps, and how far they can be tied to the underlying geometric structure of spacetime. In particular, we consider hops which preserve features of the underlying number field, and investigate the extent to which all hops can be restricted to be of this form. We conclude that hop-based motion can also be regarded as an illusion, one caused by modelling physics in the 'wrong' number system.
It has been suggested that the space-time structure as described by the theory of special relativity is a macroscopic manifestation of a more fundamental quantum structure (pre-geometry). Efforts to quantify this idea have come mainly from the area of abstract quantum logic theory. Here we present a preliminary attempt to develop a quantum formulation of special relativity based on a model that retains some geometric attributes. Our model is Feynman's "checker-board" trajectory for a 1-D relativistic free particle. We use this model to guide us in identifying (1) the quantum version of the postulates of special relativity and (2) the appropriate quantum "coordinates". This model possesses a useful feature that it admits an interpretation both in terms of paths in space-time and in terms of quantum states. Based on the quantum version of the postulates, we derive a transformation rule for velocity. This rule reduces to the Einstein's velocity-addition formula in the macroscopic limit and reveals an interesting aspect of time. The 3-D case, time-dilation effect, and invariant interval are also discussed in term of this new formulation. This is a preliminary investigation; some results are derived, while others are interesting observations at this point.
The modern concept of spacetime usually emerges from the consideration of moving clocks on the assumption that world-lines are continuous. In this paper we start with the assumption that natural clocks are digital and that events are discrete. By taking different continuum limits we show that the phase of non-relativistic quantum mechanics and the odd metric of spacetime both emerge from the consideration of discrete clocks in relative motion. From this perspective, the continuum limit that manifests itself in 'spacetime' is an infinite mass limit. The continuum limit that gives rise to the Schrödinger equation retains a finite mass as a beat frequency superimposed on the 'Zitterbewegung' at the Compton frequency. We illustrate this in a simple model in which a Poisson process drives a relativistic clock that gives rise to a Feynman path integral, where the phase is a manifestation of the twin paradox. The example shows that the non-Euclidean character of spacetime and the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics share a common origin. They both emerge from the necessity that clocks age at rates that are path dependent.
The logical consistency of a description of quantum theory in the context of general relativity, which includes minimal coupling principle, is analyzed from the point of view of Feynman's formulation in terms of path integrals. We will argue from this standpoint and use an argument that claims the incompleteness of the general relativistic description of gravitation, which emerges as a consequence of the gravitationally induced phases of the so-called flavor-oscillation clocks, that the postulates of quantum theory are logically incompatible with the usual minimal coupling principle. It will be shown that this inconsistency could emerge from the fact that the required geometrical information to calculate the probability of finding a particle at any point of the respective manifold does not lie in a region with finite volume. Then we put forth a new quantum minimal coupling principle in terms of a restricted path integral, and along the ideas of this model not only the propagator of a free particle is calculated but also the conditions under which we recover Feynman's case for a free particle are deduced. The effect on diatomic interstellar molecules is also calculated. The already existing relation between restricted path integral formalism and decoherence model will enable us to connect the issue of a quantum minimal coupling principle with the collapse of the wave function. From this last remark we will claim that the geometrical structure of the involved manifold acts as, always present, a measuring device on a quantum particle. In other words, in this proposal we connect the issue of a quantum minimal coupling principle with a claim which states that gravity could be one of the physical entities which results in the collapse of the wave function.
The Causal Set hypothesis for Quantum Gravity asserts that the smooth Lorentzian spacetime manifold of General Relativity is only an approximation to a fundamental microscopic discrete structure: a locally-finite partially-ordered set. The points of this set are akin to the point-events of the spacetime manifold, and the order-relations among these points are akin to the causal-relations among these point-events. The local-finiteness condition implies a fundamental discreteness and provides an important [conformal] factor needed for the continuum approximations. In this dissertation, we address two aspects toward the formulation of a quantum dynamics for causal sets. The first aspect concerns the dynamics of a zero-mass classical scalar field on a background causal set, Poisson-sampled from an Alexandrov interval in (1 + 1)-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. Our numerical simulations suggest that actions can be defined for such a scalar field, expressed solely in terms of the causal set and the scalar field, which approximates the corresponding classical action on the continuum Minkowski spacetime. This result may help us describe matter and gauge fields in a local and Lorentz-invariant way on a causal set, a discrete structure now being considered as the arena for spacetime physics. More importantly, it may help us formulate an action for the causal set itself, which would be used in a sum-over-histories approach to describe the quantum dynamics of causal sets. The second aspect concerns Quantum Measure Theory, a new approach to quantum dynamics inspired by the sum-over-histories approach, which is better suited to formulating the dynamics of causal sets and of other alternative structures for spacetime. To better understand the mathematical structure underlying this new approach, we derive some algebraic identities involving the sum-rules of the Quantum Measure and its generalizations. We conclude with a discussion on possible applications and open problems concerning these aspects.
This paper defines, on the Galilean space-time, the group of asymptotically Euclidean transformations (AET), which are equivalent to Euclidean transformations at space-time infinity, and proposes a formulation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics which is invariant under such transformations. This formulation is based on the asymptotic quantum measure, which is shown to be invariant under AET's. This invariance exposes an important connection between AET's and Feynman path integrals, and reveals the nonmetric character of the asymptotic quantum measure. The latter feature becomes even clearer when the theory is formulated in terms of the coordinate-free formalism of asymptotically Euclidean manifold, which do not have a metric structure. This mathematical formalism suggests the following physical interpretation: (i) Particles evolution is represented by trajectories on an asymptotically Euclidean manifold; (ii) The metric and the law of motion are not defined a priori as fundamental entities, but they are properties of a particular class of reference frames; (iii) The universe is considered as a probability space in which the asymptotic quantum measure plays the role of a probability measure. Points (ii) and (iii) are used to build the asymptotic measurement theory, which is shown to be consistent with traditional quantum measurement theory. The most remarkable feature of this measurement theory is the possibility of having a nonchaotic distribution of the initial conditions (NCDIC), an extremely counterintuitive but not paradoxical phenomenon which allows to interpret typical quantum phenomena, such as particle diffraction and tunnel effect, while still providing a description of their motion in terms of classical trajectories.
In this paper, we extend the framework introduced in [1], which proposed a two-dimensional model of time as a means to reconcile relativistic invariance with quantum discreteness. Building on this foundation, we derive key principles of quantum theory such as the uncertainty and exclusion principles and also introduce a fourth postulate: “The probability of an event is the same in all inertial frames of reference (IFR), independent of the observer's position in space.” This postulate enables us also to derive the probability amplitude interference from a purely relativistic time-phase geometry. We show that trajectories in the two-dimensional time plane, governed by relativistic constraints and discrete frequency-phase dynamics, naturally give rise to quantized measurements and path-based superposition. Using the Mach-Zehnder interferometer as an illustrative case, we demonstrate that the square of the proper time trajectory corresponds to quantum probability and interference phenomena emerge from the structure of phase evolution in time. Our formulation also aligns with Feynman’s path integral framework, showing that quantum mechanics can be interpreted as a direct geometric consequence of extended relativistic principles.