The Postulates of Quantum Mechanics

Michele Cini

Robert G. Mortimer

Michele Cini

Alberto Galindo, P. Pascual

Oscar Diego

In this paper we are going to introduce a new dynamical postulate in Quantum Mechanics. This new principle is defined using path integrals over the set of normalized wave functions. We will show in a qualitative way that this postulate is equivalent to the Schrodinger equation and to the measurement postulates. Then we propose a new set of fundamental postulates for Quantum Mechanics. In this approach to Quantum Mechanics we separate the fundamental postulates and the physical interpretation. The fundamental postulates are abstract mathematical principles. Their physical interpretation depend on the physical system under study. These postulates do not use the concepts of measurement device and observer.

Gabriele Carcassi, Lorenzo Maccone, C. Aidala

The tensor product postulate of quantum mechanics states that the Hilbert space of a composite system is the tensor product of the components' Hilbert spaces. All current formalizations of quantum mechanics that do not contain this postulate contain some equivalent postulate or assumption (sometimes hidden). Here we give a natural definition of a composite system as a set containing the component systems and show how one can logically derive the tensor product rule from the state postulate and from the measurement postulate. In other words, our Letter reduces by one the number of postulates necessary to quantum mechanics.