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A Stochastic Sampling Approach to the Measurement Problem

Yingrui Yang

Published Feb 1, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The present paper reports an alternative solution of the measurement problem in quantum theory. The measurement problem can be characterized as that the U procedure verses the R procedure. The R-procedure is tested by the Yes/No measurement originally proposed by von Neuman and discussed in details by Penrose. We propose a novel stochastic sampling method to tackle the measurement paradox. Each testing sample produces a pair of Yes-number c and No-number d, which in turn generates a sample phase with respect to the exponential form of . All the sample phases form a group, write Taking as the sampling potential, the revised Schrödinger equation has the form . This equation has a solution , where is the dynamic phase, while is the sample phase. Based on the Born rule, the probability of a sample is given by the squared magnitude of . Some metaproperties of the new U-R model, such as natural transformation, consistency, and completeness, are presented. The present work provides a new picture of quantum mechanics and alike

DOI
10.20944/preprints202402.0013.v1

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The present paper reports an alternative solution of the measurement problem in quantum theory. The measurement problem can be characterized as that the U procedure verses the R procedure. The R-procedure is tested by the Yes/No measurement originally proposed by von Neuman and discussed in details by Penrose. We propose a novel stochastic sampling method to tackle the measurement paradox. Each testing sample produces a pair of Yes-number c and No-number d, which in turn generates a sample phase with respect to the exponential form of . All the sample phases form a group, write Taking as the sampling potential, the revised Schrödinger equation has the form . This equation has a solution , where is the dynamic phase, while is the sample phase. Based on the Born rule, the probability of a sample is given by the squared magnitude of . Some metaproperties of the new U-R model, such as natural transformation, consistency, and completeness, are presented. The present work provides a new picture of quantum mechanics and alike
The present paper reports an alternative solution of the measurement problem in quantum theory. The measurement problem can be characterized as that the U-procedure verses the R-procedure. The R-procedure is tested by the Yes/No measurement originally proposed by von Neuman and discussed in details by Penrose. We propose a novel stochastic sampling method to tackle the measurement paradox. Each testing sample produces a pair of Yes-number c and No-number d, which in turn generates a sample phase with respect to the exponential form of (c+id). All the sample phases forms a group GR. Taking GR as the sampling potential, combined with the dynamic phase group GU,we establish a unified model of U-procedure and R-procedure for the evolution of wavefunction. Based on the Born rule, the probability of a sample is given by the squared magnitude of (c+id). Some metaproperties of the new U-R model, such as natural transformation, consistency, and completeness, are presented. The present work provides a new picture of quantum mechanics and alike. The measurement problem widely exists in dynamic analysis, higher cognition, and large data modeling. Thus, the work reported here has a wide range of applications. Keywords: The measurement problem; U-R procedures; the Yes/No type measurement; stochastic sampling; sample phase; Born probability.
The basic idea of quantum mechanics is that the property of any system can be in a state of superposition of various possibilities (or eigen states).This state of superposition is also known as wave function and it evolves linearly with time in a deterministic way in accordance with the Schrodinger equation.However, when a measurement is carried out on the system to determine the value of that property (say position), the system instantaneously transforms to one of the eigen states and thus we get only a single value as an outcome of the measurement.Quantum measurement problem seeks to find the cause and exact mechanism governing this transformation.In an attempt to solve the above problem, in this paper, we will first define what the wave function represents in real-world and will identify the root cause behind the stochastic nature of events.Then, we will develop a model to explain the mechanism of collapse of the quantum mechanical wave function in response to a measurement.In the process of development of model, we will explain Schrodinger cat paradox and will show how Born's rule for probability becomes a natural consequence of the measurement process.
The Born rule asserts the probability distribution of eigenstates observed in unbiased quantum measurements, but the reason it holds remains elusive. This manuscript discusses how the Born rule might be explained by Schrodinger equation dynamics, if a measurement comprises a system responding to random fluctuations until it is within an arbitrarily small tolerance of a measurement eigenstate. We describe the random walk dynamics that produce this behavior in terms of a class of time-dependent, stochastic unitary matrices U(t). We also discuss the class of stochastic potential energies in the Schrodinger equation that is equivalent to this class of unitary matrices. This analysis raises some questions worth considering, including how to determine if any measurements actually follow the predicted random walk mechanism and whether a reliable measurement apparatus could be designed that deviates from Born rule probabilities. Interestingly, if any measurements do follow this random walk mechanism, then exposing a quantum system to stochastic 'noise' is an intrinsic part of such a measurement, not merely an unwanted side effect. This characteristic would have implications for reducing noise in quantum sensing and quantum computing. This is a draft of a work in progress. Questions and suggestions are welcome.
We present the quantum measurement problem as a serious physics problem. Serious because without a resolution, quantum theory is not complete, as it does not tell how one should - in principle - perform measurements. It is physical in the sense that the solution will bring new physics, i.e. new testable predictions, hence it is not merely a matter of interpretation of a frozen formalism. I argue that the two popular ways around the measurement problem, many-worlds and Bohmian-like mechanics, do, de facto, introduce effective collapses when "I" interact with the quantum system. Hence, surprisingly, in many-worlds and Bohmian mechanics, the "I" plays a more active role than in alternative models, like e.g. collapse models. Finally, I argue that either there are several kinds of stuffs out there, i.e. physical dualism, some stuff that respects the superposition principle and some that doesn't, or there are special configurations of atoms and photons for which the superposition principle breaks down. Or, and this I argue is the most promising, the dynamics has to be modified, i.e. in the form of a stochastic Schrödinger equation.
The auxiliary rules of quantum mechanics have always included the Born rule that connects probability with square modulus. This need not be the case, for it is possible to introduce probability into the theory through probability current alone. When this is done, other rules can provide for stochastically triggered measurements within a system of any size, microscopic or macroscopic; and solutions to the Schrodinger equation can be consistently applied to individual trials, not just to ensembles of trials. Other advantages appear. The rules can then resolve the paradox associated with the Schrodinger cat experiment, and remove the possibility of the many world thesis of Everett. As a result, the system can accommodate any conscious observer, including the principal investigator who cannot otherwise be included in a quantum mechanical system.
The theoretical description of measurement in quantum mechanics is one of the most controversial topics in physics. It is deeply entrenched in the interpretations of quantum mechanics and combines both physics and philosophy into the discussion. Often it is described as the measurement problem because of some issues associated with the theory of measurement introduced by John von Neumann in 1932, related to the fact that the Born projection postulate is not unitary and so is not described by the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We discuss that theory later in this chapter, but we start from a simpler approach focused on what is actually being done in most single-quantum experiments. Along the way, we encounter a number of counterintuitive and subtle issues, before we explain why we refuse to tackle the measurement problem itself. Specific experiments that we discuss in detail include how we can measure individual quanta and how we can manipulate entanglement and perform delayed choice experiments, quantum beats, atom interferometry, and quantum non-demolition experiments in cavity QED.