Quantum Objects

Hiroshi Ohata

What is a quantum object? According to individualism, quantum objects are treated as individual objects. Therefore, we can count quantum objects because they are distinct individuals. However, if the individuality of a quantum object is given by its substratum, or primitively, the object would possess a definite position, which contradicts the orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics. Given this situation, I propose that quantum objects should be regarded as “indefinite multi-located individuals.” A quantum object can exist wholly at multiple locations simultaneously but is probabilistically located with respect to each of those locations. This view is based on the following metaphysical framework: the ontology of thisness bundle theory for quantum objects, and the ideology of property (co-)instantiation with probability.

Gustavo Esteban Romero

L.A. Lugiato, A. Gatti, K.I. Petsas

Hans H. Diel

The author's attempt to construct a local causal model of quantum theory (QT) that includes quantum field theory (QFT) resulted in the identification of "quantum objects" as the elementary units of causality and locality. Quantum objects are collections of particles (including single particles) whose collective dynamics and measurement results can only be described by the laws of QT and QFT. Local causal models of quantum objects' internal dynamics are not possible if a locality is understood as a space-point locality. Within quantum objects, state transitions may occur which instantly affect the whole quantum object. The identification of quantum objects as the elementary units of causality and locality has two primary implications for a causal model of quantum objects: (1) quantum objects run autonomously with system-state update frequencies based on their local proper times and with either no or minimal dependency on external parameters. (2) The laws of physics that describe global (but relativistic) interrelationships must be translated to a causal model of interactions between quantum objects and interactions between quantum objects and the space.

Thao P. Le

Quantum mechanics describes the smallest systems, whilst classical physics describes macroscopic scales. However, the quantum-to-classical transition is a major unsolved problem. In this thesis, we develop further understanding of the transition through the concept of objectivity. The objects we perceive in our everyday world are objective: they exist regardless of observation, and their properties are independent of observers. This is because information about everyday objects came be found, for example, in the surrounding photon environment. Quantum Darwinism is a conceptual and theoretical framework that describes the emergence of objectivity. The “Darwinistic” part refers to how certain types of information tends to spread at the expense of others. The thesis addresses the quantitative description of objectivity, the dynamics of emergent objectivity, and the analysis of non-objectivity in experimental and biology-inspired systems. Firstly, we propose two new mathematical frameworks to describe objectivity, Strong Quantum Darwinism and invariant spectrum broadcast structure. Then we unite them with the pre-existing frameworks, Zurek's Quantum Darwinism and spectrum broadcast structure, by identifying their deep connections and differences. These conditions highlight how Each framework considers varying amounts of objectivity in the system and environments and together, they create a hierarchy of objectivity. We then analyse objectivity in a scenario where system-environment interactions are strong and non-Markovian, highlighting some practical differences between the Quantum Darwinism frameworks. Next, we describe the quantum channels that create objective states, leading us to discuss the contribution of non-Markovianity to the emergence of objectivity. Then, we introduce a witnessing scheme that simplifies the detection of non-objectivity to promote further experimental testing of Quantum Darwinism with larger environments. Finally, we examine the contribution of quantum coherence and non-objectivity to the performance of a biological-inspired quantum magnetic sensor that operates close to the quantum-classical boundary. We find that the sensor operates in a non-objective regime, and that quantum coherence is necessary for the sensor's performance. The quantum-to-classical transition is a longstanding open question: these findings deepen our knowledge of how objectivity emerges, and contributes to and the types of interactions that keep systems quantum, which is relevant for understanding quantum biological systems and exploiting environment effects in novel quantum technologies. While the quantum-to-classical transition remains unsolved, Quantum Darwinism and its frameworks contribute to the understanding of emergent objectivity and have much potential to further explore aspects of the transition within the structure of quantum mechanics.

L. A. Lugiato, A. Gatti, K.I. Petsas