Interpretations of quantum mechanics in terms of beable algebras (Q2505994)

Beable algebra has been used by \textit{H. Halvorson} and \textit{R. Clifton} [Int. J. Theor. Phys. 38, No. 10, 2441--2484 (1999; Zbl 0964.81036), Theorem 4.5] to generalize the uniqueness theorem [\textit{J. Bub} and \textit{R. Clifton}, Stud. Hist. Philos. Sci. B Stud. Hist. Philos. Modern Phys. 27, 181--219 (1996)] to Hilbert spaces of arbitrary dimension. The original uniqueness theorem refers to Hilbert spaces of finite dimension, and it relates interpretations of quantum mechanics to so-called preferred observables, e. g. the Kochen-Dieks modal interpretation to some density operator. In the case of a Hilbert space of finite dimension dispersion-free states on beable algebras may be regarded as truth-value assignments. The author examines the case of infinite dimension: In the setting of the generalized uniqueness theorem let a preferred observable be given by the sets of spectral projections (i) of a density operator or (ii) of the position operator. For (i) It is shown that there do exist dispersion-free states \(\omega\) on \(X\) such that \(\omega(\bigvee P_i)=1\) and \(\omega(P_i)=0\) for some family \((P_i)\), \(i \in {\mathbb N}\) of mutually orthogonal projections (prop 3.1). Let \(D\) be a density operator on \(X\), \(\varphi\) the state induced by \(D\), \(S\) the set of dispersion-free \textbf{normal} states on \(X\). Then \(\varphi\) is a mixture of states from \(S\) described by some probability measure on \(S\) (thm. 3.1). According to the author's interpretation this measure represents the degree of ignorance about \(\varphi\). In case (ii) analogous results are given for the position operator leading to a family of Borel sets such that a physical object exists in their union but in none of the sets of the family (prop. 4.1), and to a representation of normal states by a mixture of dispersion-free states (thm. 4.1).