On the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and the notion of closed systems (Q261975)
From MaRDI portal
scientific article
Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
---|---|---|---|
English | On the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and the notion of closed systems |
scientific article |
Statements
On the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and the notion of closed systems (English)
0 references
29 March 2016
0 references
The notion of ``closed system'' in Quantum Mechanics is discussed. Two models of a quantum mechanical system \(P\) spatially far separated from the ``rest of the universe'' \(Q\) are studied. Under reasonable assumptions on the interaction between \(P\) and \(Q\), it is shown that the system \(P\) behaves as a closed system if the initial state of \(P\vee Q\) belongs to a large class of states, including ones exhibiting entanglement between \(P\) and \(Q\). The results are used to illustrate the non-deterministic nature of quantum mechanics. It is also shown that that assigning an initial state and a unitary time evolution to a quantum system is generally not sufficient to predict the results of a measurement with certainty.
0 references
closed systems
0 references
quantum mechanics
0 references
probabilistic nature
0 references