A The wave-function as a true ensemble

  • A
  • Thread starter Thread starter bohm2
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ensemble
bohm2
Science Advisor
Messages
828
Reaction score
55
"We argue that the ψ-ontic/epistemic distinction fails to properly identify ensemble interpretations and propose a more useful definition. We then show that all ψ-ensemble interpretations which reproduce quantum mechanics violate Statistical Independence."

https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.02676
 
  • Like
Likes Demystifier
Physics news on Phys.org
"Suppose you have a theory that isn’t ontic because two of the hidden variables map to the same wave-function. Well, then you can just declare the wave-function to be part of the hidden variables, so that the new hidden variables – now including the wave-function – will always map to only one wave-function. Such an easily malleable definition of ‘ontic’ is not what one wants to base theorems on."

This is an interesting point. If I have a quantum state ##\psi##, I can always define an observable $$\hat{O} = \lambda_\psi|\psi\rangle\langle\psi| + \lambda_{\not\psi}(\hat{I} - |\psi\rangle\langle\psi|)$$ We have a property ##\lambda_\psi## resolvable (in principle) by experiment, that ##\psi## predicts with certainty. All other pure states will predict ##\lambda_{\not\psi}## with certainty. Make this variable a real hidden variable and voila, your wavefunction uniquely characterises the physical state of the system.
 
Morbert said:
"All other pure states will predict ##\lambda_{\not\psi}## with certainty.
No, they won't. Only pure states orthogonal to ##\psi## will.
 
  • Like
Likes gentzen and vanhees71
Oops stupid mistake
 
  • Like
Likes Demystifier and gentzen
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In her YouTube video Bell’s Theorem Experiments on Entangled Photons, Dr. Fugate shows how polarization-entangled photons violate Bell’s inequality. In this Insight, I will use quantum information theory to explain why such entangled photon-polarization qubits violate the version of Bell’s inequality due to John Clauser, Michael Horne, Abner Shimony, and Richard Holt known as the...
I understand that the world of interpretations of quantum mechanics is very complex, as experimental data hasn't completely falsified the main deterministic interpretations (such as Everett), vs non-deterministc ones, however, I read in online sources that Objective Collapse theories are being increasingly challenged. Does this mean that deterministic interpretations are more likely to be true? I always understood that the "collapse" or "measurement problem" was how we phrased the fact that...
Back
Top