dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaIs Quantum Mechanics An Island In Theoryspace?
| Authors | Scott Aaronson |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0401062 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0401062 |
Abstract
This recreational paper investigates what happens if we change quantum mechanics in several ways. The main results are as follows. First, if we replace the 2-norm by some other p-norm, then there are no nontrivial norm-preserving linear maps. Second, if we relax the demand that norm be preserved, we end up with a theory that allows rapid solution of PP-complete problems (as well as superluminal signalling). And third, if we restrict amplitudes to be real, we run into a difficulty much simpler than the usual one based on parameter-counting of mixed states.
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"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:02:03.309000Z",
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"abstract": "This recreational paper investigates what happens if we change quantum\nmechanics in several ways. The main results are as follows. First, if we\nreplace the 2-norm by some other p-norm, then there are no nontrivial\nnorm-preserving linear maps. Second, if we relax the demand that norm be\npreserved, we end up with a theory that allows rapid solution of PP-complete\nproblems (as well as superluminal signalling). And third, if we restrict\namplitudes to be real, we run into a difficulty much simpler than the usual one\nbased on parameter-counting of mixed states.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0401062",
"authors": [
"Scott Aaronson"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"title": "Is Quantum Mechanics An Island In Theoryspace?",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0401062"
},
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