dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaShutters, Boxes, But No Paradoxes: Time Symmetry Puzzles in Quantum Theory
| Authors | R. E. Kastner |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0207070 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0207070 |
| DOI | 10.1080/02698590412331289279 |
| Journal | International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 18:1, 89-94. (2010) |
Abstract
The ``N-Box Experiment'' is a much-discussed thought experiment in quantum mechanics. It is claimed by some authors that a single particle prepared in a superposition of N+1 box locations and which is subject to a final ``post-selection'' measurement corresponding to a different superposition can be said to have occupied ``with certainty'' N boxes during the intervening time. However, others have argued that under closer inspection, this surprising claim fails to hold. Aharonov and Vaidman have continued their advocacy of the claim in question by proposing a variation on the N-box experiment, in which the boxes are replaced by shutters and the pre- and post-selected particle is entangled with a photon. These authors argue that the resulting ``N-shutter experiment'' strengthens their original claim regarding the N-box experiment. It is argued in this paper that the apparently surprising features of this variation are no more robust than those of the N-box experiment and that it is not accurate to say that the particle is ``with certainty'' in all N shutters at any given time.
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"abstract": "The ``N-Box Experiment\u0027\u0027 is a much-discussed thought experiment in quantum\nmechanics. It is claimed by some authors that a single particle prepared in a\nsuperposition of N+1 box locations and which is subject to a final\n``post-selection\u0027\u0027 measurement corresponding to a different superposition can\nbe said to have occupied ``with certainty\u0027\u0027 N boxes during the intervening\ntime. However, others have argued that under closer inspection, this surprising\nclaim fails to hold. Aharonov and Vaidman have continued their advocacy of the\nclaim in question by proposing a variation on the N-box experiment, in which\nthe boxes are replaced by shutters and the pre- and post-selected particle is\nentangled with a photon. These authors argue that the resulting ``N-shutter\nexperiment\u0027\u0027 strengthens their original claim regarding the N-box experiment.\nIt is argued in this paper that the apparently surprising features of this\nvariation are no more robust than those of the N-box experiment and that it is\nnot accurate to say that the particle is ``with certainty\u0027\u0027 in all N shutters\nat any given time.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0207070",
"authors": [
"R. E. Kastner"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1080/02698590412331289279",
"journal_ref": "International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 18:1, 89-94.\n (2010)",
"title": "Shutters, Boxes, But No Paradoxes: Time Symmetry Puzzles in Quantum Theory",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0207070"
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