Conditional probability, three-slit experiments, and the Jordan algebra structure of quantum mechanics (Q1942170): Difference between revisions

The author studies \textit{effect algebras} without any reference to them, (e.g., \textit{D. J. Foulis} and \textit{M. K. Bennett} [Found. Phys. 24, No. 10, 1331--1352 (1994; Zbl 1213.06004)], \textit{A. Dvurečenskij} and [\textit{S. Pulmannová}, New trends in quantum structures. Mathematics and its Applications (Dordrecht). 516. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Bratislava: Ister Science. (2000; Zbl 0987.81005)]). He uses two additional assumptions: (UC1) The state space is \textit{full}, i.e., for two distinct events \(e,f\), there is a state \(\mu\) such that \(\mu(e)\neq\mu(f)\). (UC2) If \(e\) is an event and \(\mu\) a state such that \(\mu(e)>0\), then there is \textit{exactly one} state \(\nu\) such that \(\nu(f)=\mu(f)/\mu(e)\) for all \(f\leq e\). Condition (UC2), called the \textit{uniqueness of the conditional probabilities}, plays a key role. It allows to provide a rich mathematical structure. A complete characterization of the Jordan algebraic structure is built using three further postulates: a Hahn-Jordan decomposition property for the states, a polynomial functional calculus for the observables, and the positivity of the square of an observable. While classical probabilities are characterized by the absence of any kind of interference, the absence of interference of third (and higher) order characterizes a probability calculus which comes close to quantum mechanics. These investigations are closely related to the search for physically plausible axioms determining projection lattices among quantum structures (orthomodular posets or, more generally, effect algebras), in particular to \textit{L. J. Bunce} and \textit{J. D. M. Wright} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 26, No. 2, 288--293 (1992; Zbl 0759.46054)]. All known examples satisfying (UC1) and (UC2) can be embedded in the projection lattice of a JBW algebra. The key open problem remains whether other examples exist.