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arXiv:1301.0011 · Journal of Physics Conference Series

Measurement problem: from De Broglie to theory of classical random fields interacting with threshold detectors

Andrei Yu. Khrennikov

Published Jun 10, 2013• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The quantum measurement problem as was formulated by von Neumann in 1933 can be solved by going beyond the operational quantum formalism. In our "prequantum model" quantum systems are symbolic representations of classical random fields. The Schrödinger's dynamics is a special form of the linear dynamics of classical fields. Measurements are described as interactions of classical fields with detectors. Discontinuity, the "collapse of the wave function", has the trivial origin: usage of threshold type detectors. The von Neumann projection postulate can be interpreted as the formal mathematical encoding of the absence of coincidence detection in measurement on a single quantum system, e.g., photon's polarization measurement. Our model, prequantum classical statistical field theory (PCSFT), in combination with measurements by threshold detectors satisfies the quantum restriction on coincidence detections: the second order coherence is less than one (opposite to all known semiclassical and classical feld models). The basic rule of quantum probability, the Born's rule, is derived from properties of prequantum random felds interacting with threshold type detectors. Comparison with De Broglie's views to quantum mechanics as theory of physical waves with singularities is presented.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/442/1/012011

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The quantum measurement problem as was formulated by von Neumann in 1933 can be solved by going beyond the operational quantum formalism. In our "prequantum model" quantum systems are symbolic representations of classical random fields. The Schrödinger's dynamics is a special form of the linear dynamics of classical fields. Measurements are described as interactions of classical fields with detectors. Discontinuity, the "collapse of the wave function", has the trivial origin: usage of threshold type detectors. The von Neumann projection postulate can be interpreted as the formal mathematical encoding of the absence of coincidence detection in measurement on a single quantum system, e.g., photon's polarization measurement. Our model, prequantum classical statistical field theory (PCSFT), in combination with measurements by threshold detectors satisfies the quantum restriction on coincidence detections: the second order coherence is less than one (opposite to all known semiclassical and classical feld models). The basic rule of quantum probability, the Born's rule, is derived from properties of prequantum random felds interacting with threshold type detectors. Comparison with De Broglie's views to quantum mechanics as theory of physical waves with singularities is presented.
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The very old problem of the statistical content of quantum mechanics (QM) is studied in a novel framework. The Born's rule (one of the basic postulates of QM) is derived from theory of classical random signals. We present a measurement scheme which transforms continuous signals into discrete clicks and reproduces the Born's rule. This is the scheme of threshold type detection. Calibration of detectors plays a crucial role. Creation of such a detection model provides a possibility to represent the basic quantum phenomena as classical field phenomena completed by measurements with threshold type and properly calibrated detectors. Finally, the wave-particle duality has been resolved in favor of the purely wave description. It is well known that coincidence probability plays an important role in the debate on the possibility to reduce quantum theory (especially quantum optics) to classical field theory. Our model matches well the predictions of quantum theory and experiment. It violates the prediction of the classical field model which does not take into account the presence of threshold type detectors with proper calibration.
The very old problem of the statistical content of quantum mechanics is studied in a novel framework. We show that quantum mechanics (QM) can be considered as a measurement model of prequantum classical statistical field theory (PCSFT): a pure field theory reproducing quantum correlations. We present a measurement scheme for classical signals which reproduces the basic rule of QM, the Born's rule. This is the scheme of threshold type detection. Calibration of detectors plays a crucial role. The size of the detection threshold is determined by the mean energy of a prequantum signal. QM is interpreted as theory of measurements of classical random signals with threshold type detectors which are calibrated in a proper way. The essence of this paper is the creation of a rigorous mathematical model of threshold detection of classical (ergodic) stochastic processes.
All previous chapters of this book were devoted to the development of the theory of classical (prequantum) random fields reproducing quantum averages (including correlations for entangled systems) as averages of quadratic forms of fields. Since the basic model of prequantum fields is the Gaussian one, these fields are continuous. Hence, in the same way as in the classical signal theory, averages are calculated for variables with a continuous range of values. This model, PCSFT, is really a prequantum model. In accordance with the Bohr’s viewpoint, we consider QM as an operational formalism describing (predicting) results of measurements on microsystems. QM cannot describe intrinsic physical processes in the microworld, but onlymeasurements performed bymacroscopic classical devices. In contrast, PCSFT describes intrinsic processes in the microworld. However, it does not describe results of measurements on the level of individual events, clicks of detectors. As we pointed in Section 1.1.8, in principle one might be satisfied with creation of a prequantum model which reproduces only quantum probabilistic predictions, i.e., without establishing a direct connectionwith theory of measurement on the level of individual events. This approach would match with views of Schro¨dinger and the Bild concept in general. However, historical development of QM demonstrated that the Bild concept was not attractive for the majority of physicists. Since the experimental verification is considered as the basic counterpart of any physical theory, Bild-like prequantum theories are considered as metaphysical. Measurement theory connecting PCSFT with experiment on the level of individual events was developed in my paper [211] (see also Refs. [209, 210, 212, 213]). In this paper I elaborated a scheme of discrete measurements of classical random signals which reproduces the basic rule of QM, the Born’s rule. This is the scheme of threshold-type detection: such a detector clicks after it has “eaten” a special portion of energy
Recently a new attempt to go beyond quantum mechanics (QM) was done in the form of so called prequantum classical statistical field theory (PCSFT). In this approach QM is considered as incomplete theory – in total accordance with Einstein [1]. PCSFT is (one of possible) completions of QM. Hidden variables are given by classical fields. (It is again in accordance with Einstein.) These prequantum fields fluctuate on time and space scales which are essentially finer than scales of QM, cf. 't Hooft's attempt to go beyond QM [2, 3]. However opposite to Einstein, PCSFT does not assign results of quantum observations directly to hidden variables. Bohr's idea that the whole experimental arrangement should be taken into account is basic for PCSFT-based measurement theory. This theory for measurements of momentum of quantum particles is presented in this paper.
We present a purely wave model (based on classical random field) which reproduces quantum probabilities (given by the fundamental law of quantum mechanics, Born's rule) including probabilities for joint detection of a pair of quantum observables (e.g., spin or polarization projections). The crucial point of our approach is that the presence of detector's threshold and calibration procedure have to be treated not as simply experimental technicalities, but as the basic counterparts of the theoretical model. The presence of the background field (vacuum fluctuations) is also the key-element of our prequantum model. It is of the classical signal type and the methods of classical signal theory (including statistical radiophysics) are used for its development. We stress that our prequantum model is not objective, i.e., the values of observables (clicks of detectors) cannot be assigned in advance, i.e., before measurement. Hence, the dilemma, nonobjectivity or nonlocality, is resolved in favor of nonobjectivity (our model is local of the classical field type). In particular, we reproduce the probabilities for the EPR-experiment for photon polarization and, hence, violate CHSH inequality for classical random signals (measured by the threshold type and properly calibrated detectors acting in the presence of the background field).