Super quantum measures on finite spaces (Q385638)

Two initial pages introduce the ``decoherent histories'' approach to quantum theory. A space \(A\) of ``histories'' is fundamental (not derived from time-ordered propositions) and ``decoherence functionals'' \(D: A \times A \to C\) defined that satisfy some specific conditions. Apparently the axiomatisation (due to Gell-Mann and Hartle) allows \(D(a,a)\) to represent the probability that history a is realized, guaranteeing ``that the usual Kolmogorov probability sum rules will be satisfied'' (p. 1040). However ``Sorkin points out that the additivity of measure theory ... fails in its intuitive application to quantum mechanics''. This is evident for example in the 2-slit experiment where the ``measure \(\mu (C)\) of all electron histories'' is not same as the disjoint union of histories arriving at slit \(A\) and at slit \(B\). So now it seems that ``quantum measures'' are not additive like Kolmogorov measures, though the authors advise they ``do not wish to become embroiled in the debate about these two different measure theories in quantum foundations''. Following this introduction the next section ``Basic Definitions'' presents the principles of non-Kolmogorov ``quantum measure theory''. This is founded on set \(X\) of outcomes which ``could correspond to particle locations or spin outcomes or particle trajectories, or fine grained histories'' (p. 1041) and has a \(\sigma\)-algebra A of subsets, the ``events'' over which ``quantum measures \(\mu\)'' can be defined. These functions are ``grade-2 additive'' which means \(\mu (A\uplus B\uplus C)= \mu A \uplus B + \mu A \uplus C +\mu B \uplus C -\mu A-\mu B-\mu C\). A ``super quantum measure'' is ``grade-t additive'' for \(t \geq 2\), meeting an analogous condition for \(\mu(A1 \uplus\dots \uplus At+1)\) as well as continuity conditions. Decoherence functions are introduced as well as ``interference functions'' expressing a sense of the ``deviation'' of \(\mu\) from being a measure, ``an indication of interference''. Results by Gudder on the quantum measure spaces are presented as well as his conjectures whose proofs are the key results of this paper. Set \(X\) is assumed finite and Dirac measures are used to establish a series of lemmas and theorems. A first main result constructs signed ``super quantum spaces'' and characterizes the relationships between grade-t quantum measures and the interference functions. The second main result says that ``for any grade-t super quantum measure on \(A\) there exists a unique diagonally positive strongly symmetric signed measure \(\Lambda\) on \(A^t\) such that \(\mu(A) = \Lambda (A^t)\)'', confirming Gudder's conjecture. Full proofs of these results are presented clearly and in detail, thus extending knowledge of these finite spaces. It is a pity that foundational issues are not addressed again after initial discussions. The ``decoherent histories'' originally proposed as fundamental so that Kolmogorov measure theory can be used, give way to spaces derived from fundamental propositions. Derived ``events'' are supposedly subject to non-additive ``quantum measures'' even though they are assumed to be a \(\sigma\)-algebra. This confusion, acknowledged by the authors, raises important questions that are not addressed, leaving the foundation of their analysis unclear.