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arXiv:hep-th/0205168

Wormhole Spaces, Connes' "Points, Speaking to Each Other", and the Translocal Structure of Quantum Theory

Manfred Requardt

Published May 16, 2002• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We amalgamate three seemingly quite different fields of concepts and phenomena and argue that they actually represent closely related aspects of a more primordial space-time structure called by us wormhole spaces. Connes' framework of non-commutative topological spaces and ``points, speaking to each other'', a translocal web of (cor)relations, being hidden in the depth-structure of our macroscopic space-time and made visible by the application of a new geometric renormalisation process, and the apparent but difficult to understand translocal features of quantum theory. We argue that the conception of our space-time continuum as being basically an aggregate of structureless points is almost surely to poor and has to be extended and that the conceptual structure of quantum theory, in particular its translocal features like e.g. entanglement and complex superposition, are exactly a mesoscopic consequence of this microscopic wormhole structure. We emphasize the close connections with the ``small world phenomenon'' and rigorously show that the micro state of our space-time, viewed as a dynamical system, has to be critical in a scale free way as recently observed in other fields of network science. We then briefly indicate the mechanisms by which this non-local structure manages to appear in a seemingly local disguise on the surface level, thus invoking a certain Machian spirit.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/0205168

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We amalgamate three seemingly quite different fields of concepts and phenomena and argue that they actually represent closely related aspects of a more primordial space-time structure called by us wormhole spaces. Connes' framework of non-commutative topological spaces and points, speaking to each other'', a translocal web of (cor)relations, being hidden in the depth-structure of our macroscopic space-time and made visible by the application of a new geometric renormalisation process, and the apparent but difficult to understand translocal features of quantum theory. We argue that the conception of our space-time continuum as being basically an aggregate of structureless points is almost surely to poor and has to be extended and that the conceptual structure of quantum theory, in particular its translocal features like e.g. entanglement and complex superposition, are exactly a mesoscopic consequence of this microscopic wormhole structure. We emphasize the close connections with the small world phenomenon'' and rigorously show that the micro state of our space-time, viewed as a dynamical system, has to be critical in a scale free way as recently observed in other fields of network science. We then briefly indicate the mechanisms by which this non-local structure manages to appear in a seemingly local disguise on the surface level, thus invoking a certain Machian spirit.
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We argue that quantum theory is a low-energy effective theory which emerges from some sub-quantum level theory which is of an undulatory and translocal character. We show the close connection of quantum theory with both gravity and the holographic principle which are different phenomena of one and the same theory on this primordial level. An important role in our analysis is played by the concept of a generalized renormalization group connecting this primordial level and e.g. quantum theory plus a continuous space-time. We show that characteristic phenomena like the seemingly instantaneous state reduction, the EPR-paradox or the problem of polydimensions can be understood in our undulatory translocal theory in a realistic way. Most importantly, we give a realistic interpretation of the phasefunction as a collective action variable in the spirit of Bohm and explain the emergence of a macroscopic notion of time.
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The surprising aspects of quantum information are due to two distinctly non-classical features of the quantum world: first, different quantum states need not be orthogonal and, second, quantum states may be entangled. Non-orthogonality leads to the blurring of classical distinctions. On the other hand, entanglement leads via non-locality to teleportation and other ``entanglement-assisted'' forms of communication that go beyond what is classically possible. In this article we attempt to understand these new possibilities via an analysis of the significance of entanglement for the basic physical concepts of a ``particle'' and a ``localized physical system''. Classical particles can be individuated on the basis of qualitative differences in their sets of properties. But in entangled states the ``particle labels'' of the quantum formalism usually do not pick out such sets of individuating particle properties. It is sometimes nevertheless possible to think in terms of individual particles, which may be localized; but we argue that in general the structure of quantum mechanics is at odds with such a particle interpretation. This finally leads us to the conclusion that quantum mechanics is best seen as not belonging to the category of space-time theories, in which physical quantities are functions on space-time points. The resulting picture of the quantum world is relevant for our understanding of the way in which quantum theory is non-local, and it sheds light on the novel aspects of quantum information.
Collapse models possibly suggest the need for a better understanding of the structure of space-time. We argue that physical space, and space-time, are emergent features of the Universe, which arise as a result of dynamical collapse of the wave function. The starting point for this argument is the observation that classical time is external to quantum theory, and there ought to exist an equivalent reformulation which does not refer to classical time. We propose such a reformulation, based on a non-commutative special relativity. In the spirit of Trace Dynamics, the reformulation is arrived at, as a statistical thermodynamics of an underlying classical dynamics in which matter and non-commuting space-time degrees of freedom are matrices obeying arbitrary commutation relations. Inevitable statistical fluctuations around equilibrium can explain the emergence of classical matter fields and classical space-time, in the limit in which the universe is dominated by macroscopic objects. The underlying non-commutative structure of space-time also helps understand better the peculiar nature of quantum non-locality, where the effect of wave-function collapse in entangled systems is felt across space-like separations.
Macroscopic quantum phenomena refer to quantum features in objects of 'large' sizes, systems with many components or degrees of freedom, organized in some ways where they can be identified as macroscopic objects. This emerging field is ushered in by several categories of definitive experiments in superconductivity, electromechanical systems, Bose-Einstein condensates and others. Yet this new field which is rich in open issues at the foundation of quantum and statistical physics remains little explored theoretically (with the important exception of the work of A J Leggett [1], while touched upon or implied by several groups of authors represented in this conference. Our attitude differs in that we believe in the full validity of quantum mechanics stretching from the testable micro to meso scales, with no need for the introduction of new laws of physics.) This talk summarizes our thoughts in attempting a systematic investigation into some key foundational issues of quantum macroscopic phenomena, with the goal of ultimately revealing or building a viable theoretical framework. Three major themes discussed in three intended essays are the large N expansion [2], the correlation hierarchy [3] and quantum entanglement [4]. We give a sketch of the first two themes and then discuss several key issues in the consideration of macro and quantum, namely, a) recognition that there exist many levels of structure in a composite body and only by judicious choice of an appropriate set of collective variables can one give the best description of the dynamics of a specific level of structure. Capturing the quantum features of a macroscopic object is greatly facilitated by the existence and functioning of these collective variables; b) quantum entanglement, an exclusively quantum feature [5], is known to persist to high temperatures [6] and large scales [7] under certain conditions, and may actually decrease with increased connectivity in a quantum network [8]. We use entanglement as a measure of quantumness here and pick out these somewhat counter-intuitive examples to show that there are blind spots worthy of our attention and issues which we need to analyze closer. Our purpose is to try to remove the stigma that quantum only pertains to micro, in order to make way for deeper probes into the conditions whereby quantum features of macroscopic systems manifest.