81 research outputs found
Collapse Theories as Beable Theories
I discuss the interpretation of spontaneous collapse theories, with particular reference to Bell's suggestion that the stochastic jumps in the evolution of the wave function should be considered as local beables of the theory. I develop this analogy in some detail for the case of non-relativistic GRW-type theories, using a generalisation of Bell's notion of beables to POV measures. In the context of CSL-type theories, this strategy appears to fail, and I discuss instead Ghirardi and co-workers' mass-density interpretation and its relation to Schroedinger's original charge-density interpretation. This discussion is extended to relativistic CSL-type theories. A few remarks on Everett's interpretation conclude the paper
Non-equilibrium in Stochastic Mechanics
Peer reviewedPreprin
Probability, Arrow of Time and Decoherence
This paper relates both to the metaphysics of probability and to the physics
of time asymmetry. Using the formalism of decoherent histories, it investigates
whether intuitions about intrinsic time directedness that are often associated
with probability can be justified in the context of no-collapse approaches to
quantum mechanics. The standard (two-vector) approach to time symmetry in the
decoherent histories literature is criticised, and an alternative approach is
proposed, based on two decoherence conditions ('forwards' and 'backwards')
within the one-vector formalism. In turn, considerations of forwards and
backwards decoherence and of decoherence and recoherence suggest that a
time-directed interpretation of probabilities, if adopted, should be both
contingent and perspectival.Comment: 26 page
Non-equilibrium in Stochastic Mechanics
Peer reviewedPreprin
Derivation of the Symmetry Postulates for Identical Particles from Pilot-Wave Theories
The symmetries of the wavefunction for identical particles, including anyons,
are given a rigorous non-relativistic derivation within pilot-wave formulations
of quantum mechanics. In particular, parastatistics are excluded. The result
has a rigorous generalisation to n particles and to spinorial wavefunctions.
The relation to other non-relativistic approaches is briefly discussed.Comment: 18 page
Non-equilibrium in Stochastic Mechanics
The notion of non-equilibrium, in the sense of a particle distribution other than
rho equal psi squared, is imported into Nelsonâs stochastic mechanics, and described in terms of effective wavefunctions obeying non-linear equations. These techniques are applied to the discussion of non-locality in non-linear Schroedinger equations
Classical Extensions, Classical Representations and Bayesian Updating in Quantum Mechanics
I review the formalism of classical extensions of quantum mechanics
introduced by Beltrametti and Bugajski, and compare it to the classical
representations discussed e.g. by Busch, Hellwig and Stulpe and recently used
by Fuchs in his discussion of quantum mechanics in terms of standard quantum
measurements. I treat the problem of finding Bayesian analogues of the state
transition associated with measurement in the canonical classical extension as
well as in the related 'uniform' classical representation. In the classical
extension, the analogy is extremely good.Comment: 14 pages, presented at the conference 'Quantum Theory:
Reconsideration of Foundations - 2', Vaexjoe, Sweden, June 200
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