dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum Equilibrium and the Origin of Absolute Uncertainty
| Authors | Detlef Dürr, Sheldon Goldstein, Nino Zanghí |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0308039 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0308039 |
| DOI | 10.1007/BF01049004 |
| Journal | Journ. of Statistical Phys. 67, 843-907 (1992) |
Abstract
The quantum formalism is a ``measurement'' formalism--a phenomenological formalism describing certain macroscopic regularities. We argue that it can be regarded, and best be understood, as arising from Bohmian mechanics, which is what emerges from Schr\"odinger's equation for a system of particles when we merely insist that ``particles'' means particles. While distinctly non-Newtonian, Bohmian mechanics is a fully deterministic theory of particles in motion, a motion choreographed by the wave function. We find that a Bohmian universe, though deterministic, evolves in such a manner that an {\it appearance} of randomness emerges, precisely as described by the quantum formalism and given, for example, by ``$\rho=|\psis|^2$.'' A crucial ingredient in our analysis of the origin of this randomness is the notion of the effective wave function of a subsystem, a notion of interest in its own right and of relevance to any discussion of quantum theory. When the quantum formalism is regarded as arising in this way, the paradoxes and perplexities so often associated with (nonrelativistic) quantum theory simply evaporate.
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"abstract": "The quantum formalism is a ``measurement\u0027\u0027 formalism--a phenomenological\nformalism describing certain macroscopic regularities. We argue that it can be\nregarded, and best be understood, as arising from Bohmian mechanics, which is\nwhat emerges from Schr\\\"odinger\u0027s equation for a system of particles when we\nmerely insist that ``particles\u0027\u0027 means particles. While distinctly\nnon-Newtonian, Bohmian mechanics is a fully deterministic theory of particles\nin motion, a motion choreographed by the wave function. We find that a Bohmian\nuniverse, though deterministic, evolves in such a manner that an {\\it\nappearance} of randomness emerges, precisely as described by the quantum\nformalism and given, for example, by ``$\\rho=|\\psis|^2$.\u0027\u0027 A crucial ingredient\nin our analysis of the origin of this randomness is the notion of the effective\nwave function of a subsystem, a notion of interest in its own right and of\nrelevance to any discussion of quantum theory. When the quantum formalism is\nregarded as arising in this way, the paradoxes and perplexities so often\nassociated with (nonrelativistic) quantum theory simply evaporate.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0308039",
"authors": [
"Detlef D\u00fcrr",
"Sheldon Goldstein",
"Nino Zangh\u00ed"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1007/BF01049004",
"journal_ref": "Journ. of Statistical Phys. 67, 843-907 (1992)",
"title": "Quantum Equilibrium and the Origin of Absolute Uncertainty",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0308039"
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