Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:hep-th/0104074

Quantum correlations from incomplete classical statistics

CHRISTOF WETTERICH

Published Apr 9, 2001• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We formulate incomplete classical statistics for situations where the knowledge about the probability distribution outside a local region is limited. The information needed to compute expectation values of local observables can be collected in a quantum mechanical state vector, whereas further statistical information about the probability distribution outside the local region becomes irrelevant. The translation of the available information between neighboring local regions is expressed by a Hamilton operator. A quantum mechanical operator can be associated to each local observable, such that expectation values of ``classical'' observables can be computed by the usual quantum mechanical rules. The requirement that correlation functions should respect equivalence relations for local obeservables induces a non-commutative product in classical statistics, in complete correspondence to the quantum mechanical operator product. We also discuss the issue of interference and the complex structure of quantum mechanics within our classical statistical setting.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/0104074

Related papers

The origin of quantum mechanics and time from incomplete classical statistics

CHRISTOF WETTERICH

The quantum mechanical concepts of states and operators arise naturally from the question how expectation values of observables can be computed in classical statistical systems where only incomplete local information about the probability distribution is available. The notions of evolution and time are related to the translation of the available information between neighboring local regions. The complex structure of quantum mechanics, the superposition of states and the interference effects characteristic for quantum statistics find a simple origin. This suggests the emergence of quantum mechanics from classical statistics with infinitely many degrees of freedom.

•Apr 9, 2001•3 citations

Emergence of quantum mechanics from classical statistics

CHRISTOF WETTERICH

The conceptual setting of quantum mechanics is subject to an ongoing debate from its beginnings until now. The consequences of the apparent differences between quantum statistics and classical statistics range from the philosophical interpretations to practical issues as quantum computing. In this note we demonstrate how quantum mechanics can emerge from classical statistical systems. We discuss conditions and circumstances for this to happen. Quantum systems describe isolated subsystems of classical statistical systems with infinitely many states. While infinitely many classical observables "measure" properties of the subsystem and its environment, the state of the subsystem can be characterized by the expectation values of only a few probabilistic observables. They define a density matrix, and all the usual laws of quantum mechanics follow. No concepts beyond classical statistics are needed for quantum physics – the differences are only apparent and result from the particularities of those classical statistical systems which admit a quantum mechanical description. In particular, we show how the non-commuting properties of quantum operators are associated to the use of conditiona probabilities within the classical system, and how a unitary time evolution reflects the isolation of the subsystem.

arXiv:0811.0927•Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jun 1, 2009•37 citations

Local, non-classical model of Bell correlations

Anna Karlsson

We show how the Bell correlations can be modelled locally by relaxing the joint probability relation for independent variables $P(a,b)=P(a)P(b)$ outside classical settings, with complex/quaternion generators for the measurement outcomes encoding a deviation from this (classical) requirement. The consideration is motivated by complementarity. We analyse the pair correlations (photons or spin 1/2 particles) based on the limitations put on complementary observables when they are modelled as classical, non-commuting operators. As complementarity comes with both single particle properties and correlations insufficiently captured by classical theory together with `non-commutativity', we argue that a complete model should allow complementary observables to have new local dependences. That is, the existing information should not be restricted to be classical (simultaneously observable). Given this new correlation model, the central question is if information theory ought to be extended accordingly in quantum physics.

arXiv:1907.11805•Jul 26, 2019•3 citations

Probabilistic observables, conditional correlations, and quantum physics

CHRISTOF WETTERICH

Abstract We discuss the classical statistics of isolated subsystems. Only a small part of the information contained in the classical probability distribution for the subsystem and its environment is available for the description of the isolated subsystem. The “coarse graining of the information” to micro‐states implies probabilistic observables. For two‐level probabilistic observables only a probability for finding the values one or minus one can be given for any micro‐state, while such observables could be realized as classical observables with sharp values on a substate level. For a continuous family of micro‐states parameterized by a sphere all the quantum mechanical laws for a two‐state system follow under the assumption that the purity of the ensemble is conserved by the time evolution. The correlation functions of quantum mechanics correspond to the use of conditional correlation functions in classical statistics. We further discuss the classical statistical realization of entanglement within a system corresponding to four‐state quantum mechanics. We conclude that quantum mechanics can be derived from a classical statistical setting with infinitely many micro‐states.

arXiv:0810.0985•Annalen der Physik•May 11, 2010•13 citations

Quantum observables for probabilistic classical particles

Christof Wetterich

The classical observables of position and momentum are not well adapted to particles in a microphysical situation where typical probability distributions are characterized by a substantial dispersion. We propose the use of more robust quantum observables for probabilistic classical particles. The quantum observables are statistical observables which do not take fixed values for a given classical position and momentum. Solutions of the Liouville equation are discussed in the quantum formalism for classical statistics. Statistical observables are represented by non-commuting operators. No classical correlation function is defined for these observables and Bell's inequalities do not apply. We demonstrate for a general potential how a quantum system emerges from classical statistics. For the particular cases of a harmonic potential and a Coulomb potential we investigate subsystems which describe all features of a quantum particle. This covers the discrete energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom and quantum harmonic oscillator. We discuss the interference for the double-slit experiment. Conserved statistical observables may also be relevant for the probabilistic dynamics of dust or planets.

quant-pharXiv:2607.13937•Jul 16, 2026•0 citations

Non-commutativity from coarse grained classical probabilities

CHRISTOF WETTERICH

Non-commutative quantum physics at the atom scale can arise from coarse graining of a classical statistical ensemble at the Planck scale. Position and momentum of an isolated particle are classical observables which remain computable in terms of the coarse grained information. However, the commuting classical product of position and momentum observables is no longer defined in the coarse grained system, which is therefore described by incomplete statistics. The microphysical classical statistical ensemble at the Planck scale admits an alternative non-commuting product structure for position and momentum observables which is compatible with the coarse graining. Measurement correlations for isolated atoms are based on this non-commutative product structure. We present an explicit example for these ideas. It also realizes the discreteness of the spin observable within a microphysical classical statistical ensemble.

arXiv:1005.3972•May 21, 2010•1 citation
We formulate incomplete classical statistics for situations where the knowledge about the probability distribution outside a local region is limited. The information needed to compute expectation values of local observables can be collected in a quantum mechanical state vector, whereas further statistical information about the probability distribution outside the local region becomes irrelevant. The translation of the available information between neighboring local regions is expressed by a Hamilton operator. A quantum mechanical operator can be associated to each local observable, such that expectation values of ``classical'' observables can be computed by the usual quantum mechanical rules. The requirement that correlation functions should respect equivalence relations for local obeservables induces a non-commutative product in classical statistics, in complete correspondence to the quantum mechanical operator product. We also discuss the issue of interference and the complex structure of quantum mechanics within our classical statistical setting.
The quantum mechanical concepts of states and operators arise naturally from the question how expectation values of observables can be computed in classical statistical systems where only incomplete local information about the probability distribution is available. The notions of evolution and time are related to the translation of the available information between neighboring local regions. The complex structure of quantum mechanics, the superposition of states and the interference effects characteristic for quantum statistics find a simple origin. This suggests the emergence of quantum mechanics from classical statistics with infinitely many degrees of freedom.
The conceptual setting of quantum mechanics is subject to an ongoing debate from its beginnings until now. The consequences of the apparent differences between quantum statistics and classical statistics range from the philosophical interpretations to practical issues as quantum computing. In this note we demonstrate how quantum mechanics can emerge from classical statistical systems. We discuss conditions and circumstances for this to happen. Quantum systems describe isolated subsystems of classical statistical systems with infinitely many states. While infinitely many classical observables "measure" properties of the subsystem and its environment, the state of the subsystem can be characterized by the expectation values of only a few probabilistic observables. They define a density matrix, and all the usual laws of quantum mechanics follow. No concepts beyond classical statistics are needed for quantum physics – the differences are only apparent and result from the particularities of those classical statistical systems which admit a quantum mechanical description. In particular, we show how the non-commuting properties of quantum operators are associated to the use of conditiona probabilities within the classical system, and how a unitary time evolution reflects the isolation of the subsystem.
We show how the Bell correlations can be modelled locally by relaxing the joint probability relation for independent variables P(a,b)=P(a)P(b)P(a,b)=P(a)P(b)P(a,b)=P(a)P(b) outside classical settings, with complex/quaternion generators for the measurement outcomes encoding a deviation from this (classical) requirement. The consideration is motivated by complementarity. We analyse the pair correlations (photons or spin 1/2 particles) based on the limitations put on complementary observables when they are modelled as classical, non-commuting operators. As complementarity comes with both single particle properties and correlations insufficiently captured by classical theory together with `non-commutativity', we argue that a complete model should allow complementary observables to have new local dependences. That is, the existing information should not be restricted to be classical (simultaneously observable). Given this new correlation model, the central question is if information theory ought to be extended accordingly in quantum physics.
Abstract We discuss the classical statistics of isolated subsystems. Only a small part of the information contained in the classical probability distribution for the subsystem and its environment is available for the description of the isolated subsystem. The “coarse graining of the information” to micro‐states implies probabilistic observables. For two‐level probabilistic observables only a probability for finding the values one or minus one can be given for any micro‐state, while such observables could be realized as classical observables with sharp values on a substate level. For a continuous family of micro‐states parameterized by a sphere all the quantum mechanical laws for a two‐state system follow under the assumption that the purity of the ensemble is conserved by the time evolution. The correlation functions of quantum mechanics correspond to the use of conditional correlation functions in classical statistics. We further discuss the classical statistical realization of entanglement within a system corresponding to four‐state quantum mechanics. We conclude that quantum mechanics can be derived from a classical statistical setting with infinitely many micro‐states.
The classical observables of position and momentum are not well adapted to particles in a microphysical situation where typical probability distributions are characterized by a substantial dispersion. We propose the use of more robust quantum observables for probabilistic classical particles. The quantum observables are statistical observables which do not take fixed values for a given classical position and momentum. Solutions of the Liouville equation are discussed in the quantum formalism for classical statistics. Statistical observables are represented by non-commuting operators. No classical correlation function is defined for these observables and Bell's inequalities do not apply. We demonstrate for a general potential how a quantum system emerges from classical statistics. For the particular cases of a harmonic potential and a Coulomb potential we investigate subsystems which describe all features of a quantum particle. This covers the discrete energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom and quantum harmonic oscillator. We discuss the interference for the double-slit experiment. Conserved statistical observables may also be relevant for the probabilistic dynamics of dust or planets.
Non-commutative quantum physics at the atom scale can arise from coarse graining of a classical statistical ensemble at the Planck scale. Position and momentum of an isolated particle are classical observables which remain computable in terms of the coarse grained information. However, the commuting classical product of position and momentum observables is no longer defined in the coarse grained system, which is therefore described by incomplete statistics. The microphysical classical statistical ensemble at the Planck scale admits an alternative non-commuting product structure for position and momentum observables which is compatible with the coarse graining. Measurement correlations for isolated atoms are based on this non-commutative product structure. We present an explicit example for these ideas. It also realizes the discreteness of the spin observable within a microphysical classical statistical ensemble.