Can QM be described by Markov chain theory?

[Adel Makram]

Can we describe the intensity of spectral lines using Markov theory? No matter what is the initial state vector of the system, the final state will be reduced to a stationary vector whose elements represent the intensity of the spectral lines.

 

[bhobba]

No.

The reason is QM requires continuous transformations between pure states that isn't allowed in classical probability theory:
http://arxiv.org/pdf/quant-ph/0101012.pdf

Thanks
Bill

 

[atyy]

http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0502068
From quantum mechanics to classical statistical physics: generalized Rokhsar-Kivelson Hamiltonians and the "Stochastic Matrix Form" decomposition

"Matrices that are SMF decomposable are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with stochastic classical systems described by a Master equation of the matrix type, hence their name. It then follows that the equilibrium partition function of the stochastic classical system partly controls the zero-temperature quantum phase diagram, while the relaxation rates of the stochastic classical system coincide with the excitation spectrum of the quantum problem."