Relativistic state reduction dynamics

A mechanism describing state reduction dynamics in relativistic quantum field theory is outlined. The mechanism involves nonlinear stochastic modifications to the standard description of unitary state evolution and the introduction of a relativistic field in which a quantized degree of freedom is associated to each point in spacetime. The purpose of this field is to mediate in the interaction between classical stochastic influences and conventional quantum fields. The equations of motion are Lorentz covariant, frame independent, and do not result in divergent behavior. It is shown that the mathematical framework permits the specification of unambiguous local properties providing a connection between the model and evidence of real world phenomena. The collapse process is demonstrated for an idealized example.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures, replacement with minor correction

Identical particles and entanglement

We review two general criteria for deciding whether a pure bipartite quantum state describing a system of two identical particles is entangled or not. The first one considers the possibility of attributing a complete set of objective properties to each particle belonging to the composed system, while the second is based both on the consideration of the Slater-Schmidt number of the fermionic and bosonic analog of the Schmidt decomposition and on the evaluation of the von Neumann entropy of the one-particle reduced statistical operators.Comment: 8 pages; Latex; Talk delivered at the International Conference on Quantum Optics 2004, Minsk, Belaru

Does quantum nonlocality irremediably conflict with Special Relativity?

We reconsider the problem of the compatibility of quantum nonlocality and the requests for a relativistically invariant theoretical scheme. We begin by discussing a recent important paper by T. Norsen [arXiv:0808.2178] on this problem and we enlarge our considerations to give a general picture of the conceptually relevant issue to which this paper is devoted.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Dynamical Reduction Models with General Gaussian Noises

We consider the effect of replacing in stochastic differential equations leading to the dynamical collapse of the statevector, white noise stochastic processes with non white ones. We prove that such a modification can be consistently performed without altering the most interesting features of the previous models. One of the reasons to discuss this matter derives from the desire of being allowed to deal with physical stochastic fields, such as the gravitational one, which cannot give rise to white noises. From our point of view the most relevant motivation for the approach we propose here derives from the fact that in relativistic models the occurrence of white noises is the main responsible for the appearance of untractable divergences. Therefore, one can hope that resorting to non white noises one can overcome such a difficulty. We investigate stochastic equations with non white noises, we discuss their reduction properties and their physical implications. Our analysis has a precise interest not only for the above mentioned subject but also for the general study of dissipative systems and decoherence.Comment: 22 pages, Late

Cosmogenesis and Collapse

Some possible benefits of dynamical collapse for a quantum theory of cosmogenesis are discussed. These are a possible long wait before creation begins, creation of energy and space, and choice of a particular universe out of a superposition.Comment: For a festschrift in Foundations of Physics in honor of Daniel Greenberger and Helmut Rauch in Foundations of Physics. This updates the previous version by adding an appendix (Appendix B) which contains the exact solution of a partial differential equation of importance in the pape

On Spontaneous Wave Function Collapse and Quantum Field Theory

One way of obtaining a version of quantum mechanics without observers, and thus of solving the paradoxes of quantum mechanics, is to modify the Schroedinger evolution by implementing spontaneous collapses of the wave function. An explicit model of this kind was proposed in 1986 by Ghirardi, Rimini, and Weber (GRW), involving a nonlinear, stochastic evolution of the wave function. We point out how, by focussing on the essential mathematical structure of the GRW model and a clear ontology, it can be generalized to (regularized) quantum field theories in a simple and natural way.Comment: 14 pages LaTeX, no figures; v2 minor improvement

The Conway-Kochen argument and relativistic GRW models

In a recent paper, Conway and Kochen proposed what is now known as the "Free Will theorem" which, among other things, should prove the impossibility of combining GRW models with special relativity, i.e., of formulating relativistically invariant models of spontaneous wavefunction collapse. Since their argument basically amounts to a non-locality proof for any theory aiming at reproducing quantum correlations, and since it was clear since very a long time that any relativistic collapse model must be non-local in some way, we discuss why the theorem of Conway and Kochen does not affect the program of formulating relativistic GRW models.Comment: 16 pages, RevTe

Numerical analysis of a spontaneous collapse model for a two-level system

We study a spontaneous collapse model for a two-level (spin) system, in which the Hamiltonian and the stochastic terms do not commute. The numerical solution of the equations of motions allows to give precise estimates on the regime at which the collapse of the state vector occurs, the reduction and delocalization times, and the reduction probabilities; it also allows to quantify the effect that an Hamiltonian which does not commute with the reducing terms has on the collapse mechanism. We also give a clear picture of the transition from the "microscopic" regime (when the noise terms are weak and the Hamiltonian prevents the state vector to collapse) to the "macroscopic" regime (when the noise terms are dominant and the collapse becomes effective for very long times). Finally, we clarify the distinction between decoherence and collapse.Comment: 7 pages, RevTeX. Significative improvements made. To appear on Phys. Rev.

Collapse Models

This is a review of formalisms and models (nonrelativistic and relativistic) which modify Schrodinger's equation so that it describes wavefunction collapse as a dynamical physical process.Comment: 40 pages, to be published in "Open Systems and Measurement in Relativistic Quantum Theory," F. Petruccione and H. P. Breuer eds. (Springer Verlag, 1999

Impact of the fat dormouse (Glis glis Linnaeus 1766) on hazel orchards in the area of Alta Langa and Belbo, Bormida, Uzzone Valleys (province of Cuneo, Italy): a preliminary assessment of agricultural damage

Ghirardi, M., Tizzani, P., Dematteis, A