Simultaneous Measurability in Quantum Mechanics

Willem M. de Muynck, Peter A. E. M. Janssen, Alexander Santman

Masanao Ozawa

N.O. Chudak, O. S. Potiienko, I. V. Sharph

Ozawa, M

Quantum mechanics predicts the joint probability distribution of the outcomes of simultaneous measurements of commuting observables, but, in the state of the art, has lacked the operational definition of simultaneous measurements. The question is answered as to when the consecutive applications of measuring apparatuses give a simultaneous measurement of their observables. For this purpose, all the possible state reductions caused by measurements of an observable is also characterized by their operations.

James L Park, Henry Margenau

Eduard Prugovečki

The empirical meaning of the simultaneity of measurement of several observables is carefully analyzed. General criteria sufficient to guarantee the internal consistency of a framework including simultaneous measurements of incompatible observables are put forward. The case is illustrated with the example of simultaneous measurements of position and momenta of particles in quantum mechanics. It is pointed out that, in general, the outcome of measurements of incompatible observables cannot be described statistically by means of the probability measures of mathematical statistics, which have primarily been introduced only with compatible observables in mind. The concept of complex probability measure is put forward. A generalization of the current interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed that would also include the case of incompatible observables, by taking advantage of the concept of complex probability measure.