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Quantum nonreproducibility at the individual level as a resolution of quantum paradoxes

Willy De Baere

Published Jan 1, 1996• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

It is argued that the issue of embedding quantum mechanics in a classical frame of counterfactual reasoning in generating inconsistencies with quantum mechanics is stressed. Invoking a criterion of actualizability of hypothetical situations it is shown how a, new nonreproducibility property of individual subquantum states mag avoid the inconsistencies with QM.

Related papers

On Some Consequences of the Breakdown of Counterfactual Definiteness in the Quantum World

Willy De Baere

The crucial role of counterfactual reasoning in generating inconsistencies between local subquantum theories and quantum mechanics is stressed. It is argued that the physical justification of such reasoning requires the fulfilment of a criterion of actualizability of hypothetical situations. It is demonstrated that in a subquantum framework this criterion is equivalent to the assumption of actual reproducibility of individual subquantum states. Therefore, inconsistencies between local subquantum theories and quantum mechanics disappear if a nonreproducibility property of nature, in full agreement with the empirical fact that past, present and future are basically distinct, is invoked. The proposal also leaves the universal validity of the locality principle untouched, in agreement with all existing empirical evidence.

Fortschritte der Physik•Nov 1, 1998•1 citation

A no-individuals account of quantum mechanics

Jonas R. Becker Arenhart

One of the most famous metaphysical problems in the philosophy of quantum mechanics concerns the individuality status of quantum entities: are they individuals, or non-individuals? The typical approach to the problem consists in defending one of the options by appealing directly to features of quantum mechanics with the addition, eventually, of theoretical virtues the favoured proposal may have. In this paper, we argue that this strategy is inappropriate, because the problem of individuality is ill formulated in the case of quantum mechanics. In a nutshell, our point is that considerations exclusively from quantum mechanics are too general and generic to grant the level of particularity required for providing for a principle of individuality. Problems of individuality appear only at the level of particular applications of the theory in specific contexts, and in these cases, we shall argue, search for a metaphysical notion of individuality may be substituted by an epistemic notion of individuation. The approach also has the benefits of dissolving the problems created by metaphysical underdetermination on this front. This article is part of the theme issue 'Identity, individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics'.

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Consistent quantum counterfactuals

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Consistent resolution of some relativistic quantum paradoxes

Robert B. Griffiths

A relativistic version of the (consistent or decoherent) histories approach to quantum theory is developed on the basis of earlier work by Hartle, and used to discuss relativistic forms of the paradoxes of spherical wave packet collapse, Bohm's formulation of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, and Hardy's paradox. It is argued that wave function collapse is not needed for introducing probabilities into relativistic quantum mechanics, and in any case should never be thought of as a physical process. Alternative approaches to stochastic time dependence can be used to construct a physical picture of the measurement process that is less misleading than collapse models. In particular, one can employ a coarse-grained but fully quantum-mechanical description in which particles move along trajectories, with behavior under Lorentz transformations the same as in classical relativistic physics, and detectors are triggered by particles reaching them along such trajectories. States entangled between spacelike separate regions are also legitimate quantum descriptions, and can be consistently handled by the formalism presented here. The paradoxes in question arise because of using modes of reasoning which, while correct for classical physics, are inconsistent with the mathematical structure of quantum theory, and are resolved (or tamed) by using a proper quantum analysis. In particular, there is no need to invoke, nor any evidence for, mysterious long-range superluminal influences, and thus no incompatibility, at least from this source, between relativity theory and quantum mechanics.

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The Gibbs paradox and the physical criteria for indistinguishability of identical particles

C. S. Unnikrishnan

Gibbs paradox in the context of statistical mechanics addresses the issue of additivity of entropy of mixing gases. The usual discussion attributes the paradoxical situation to classical distinguishability of identical particles and credits quantum theory for enabling indistinguishability of identical particles to solve the problem. We argue that indistinguishability of identical particles is already a feature in classical mechanics and this is clearly brought out when the problem is treated in the language of information and associated entropy. We pinpoint the physical criteria for indistinguishability that is crucial for the treatment of the Gibbs’ problem and the consistency of its solution with conventional thermodynamics. Quantum mechanics provides a quantitative criterion, not possible in the classical picture, for the degree of indistinguishability in terms of visibility of quantum interference, or overlap of the states as pointed out by von Neumann, thereby endowing the entropy expression with mathematical continuity and physical reasonableness.

arXiv:1811.03967•International Journal of Quantum Information•Aug 18, 2016•1 citation

Against Quantum Nonlocality

Willy De Baere, Jan De Neve

Abstract It is shown that all quantum “contradictions” disappear if one drops the assumption of unique initial conditions for a hidden variable theory for individual quantum processes. Our proposal corresponds with a deterministic world evolution such that local physical conditions are nonreproducible, in agreement with empirical observation

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A•Feb 1, 2001•0 citations
It is argued that the issue of embedding quantum mechanics in a classical frame of counterfactual reasoning in generating inconsistencies with quantum mechanics is stressed. Invoking a criterion of actualizability of hypothetical situations it is shown how a, new nonreproducibility property of individual subquantum states mag avoid the inconsistencies with QM.
The crucial role of counterfactual reasoning in generating inconsistencies between local subquantum theories and quantum mechanics is stressed. It is argued that the physical justification of such reasoning requires the fulfilment of a criterion of actualizability of hypothetical situations. It is demonstrated that in a subquantum framework this criterion is equivalent to the assumption of actual reproducibility of individual subquantum states. Therefore, inconsistencies between local subquantum theories and quantum mechanics disappear if a nonreproducibility property of nature, in full agreement with the empirical fact that past, present and future are basically distinct, is invoked. The proposal also leaves the universal validity of the locality principle untouched, in agreement with all existing empirical evidence.
One of the most famous metaphysical problems in the philosophy of quantum mechanics concerns the individuality status of quantum entities: are they individuals, or non-individuals? The typical approach to the problem consists in defending one of the options by appealing directly to features of quantum mechanics with the addition, eventually, of theoretical virtues the favoured proposal may have. In this paper, we argue that this strategy is inappropriate, because the problem of individuality is ill formulated in the case of quantum mechanics. In a nutshell, our point is that considerations exclusively from quantum mechanics are too general and generic to grant the level of particularity required for providing for a principle of individuality. Problems of individuality appear only at the level of particular applications of the theory in specific contexts, and in these cases, we shall argue, search for a metaphysical notion of individuality may be substituted by an epistemic notion of individuation. The approach also has the benefits of dissolving the problems created by metaphysical underdetermination on this front. This article is part of the theme issue 'Identity, individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics'.
An analysis using classical stochastic processes is used to construct a consistent system of quantum counterfactual reasoning. When applied to a counterfactual version of Hardy's paradox, it shows that the probabilistic character of quantum reasoning together with the ``one framework'' rule prevents a logical contradiction, and there is no evidence within this approach for any nonlocal influences. Counterfactual reasoning can support a realistic interpretation of standard quantum theory (measurements reveal what is actually there) under appropriate circumstances.
A relativistic version of the (consistent or decoherent) histories approach to quantum theory is developed on the basis of earlier work by Hartle, and used to discuss relativistic forms of the paradoxes of spherical wave packet collapse, Bohm's formulation of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, and Hardy's paradox. It is argued that wave function collapse is not needed for introducing probabilities into relativistic quantum mechanics, and in any case should never be thought of as a physical process. Alternative approaches to stochastic time dependence can be used to construct a physical picture of the measurement process that is less misleading than collapse models. In particular, one can employ a coarse-grained but fully quantum-mechanical description in which particles move along trajectories, with behavior under Lorentz transformations the same as in classical relativistic physics, and detectors are triggered by particles reaching them along such trajectories. States entangled between spacelike separate regions are also legitimate quantum descriptions, and can be consistently handled by the formalism presented here. The paradoxes in question arise because of using modes of reasoning which, while correct for classical physics, are inconsistent with the mathematical structure of quantum theory, and are resolved (or tamed) by using a proper quantum analysis. In particular, there is no need to invoke, nor any evidence for, mysterious long-range superluminal influences, and thus no incompatibility, at least from this source, between relativity theory and quantum mechanics.
Gibbs paradox in the context of statistical mechanics addresses the issue of additivity of entropy of mixing gases. The usual discussion attributes the paradoxical situation to classical distinguishability of identical particles and credits quantum theory for enabling indistinguishability of identical particles to solve the problem. We argue that indistinguishability of identical particles is already a feature in classical mechanics and this is clearly brought out when the problem is treated in the language of information and associated entropy. We pinpoint the physical criteria for indistinguishability that is crucial for the treatment of the Gibbs’ problem and the consistency of its solution with conventional thermodynamics. Quantum mechanics provides a quantitative criterion, not possible in the classical picture, for the degree of indistinguishability in terms of visibility of quantum interference, or overlap of the states as pointed out by von Neumann, thereby endowing the entropy expression with mathematical continuity and physical reasonableness.