Probability sum rules and consistent quantum histories

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETA.2009.06.064MaRDI QIDQ665269zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Thomas F. Jordan, Eric D. Chisolm

Publication date 5 March 2012

Published in Physics Letters. A (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0801.2725

zbMATH Keywords

decoherencequantum historiesquantum trajectories

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Stochastic mechanics (including stochastic electrodynamics) (81P20) Open systems, reduced dynamics, master equations, decoherence (81S22)

Abstract: An example shows that weak decoherence is more restrictive than the minimal logical decoherence structure that allows probabilities to be used consistently for quantum histories. The probabilities in the sum rules that define minimal decoherence are all calculated by using a projection operator to describe each possibility for the state at each time. Weak decoherence requires more sum rules. They bring in additional variables, that require different measurements and a different way to calculate probabilities, and raise questions of operational meaning. The example shows that extending the linearly positive probability formula from weak to minimal decoherence gives probabilities that are different from those calculated in the usual way using the Born and von Neumann rules and a projection operator at each time.

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Cited in

(2)

• Branch dependence in the ``Consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics
• Anomalies of weakened decoherence criteria for quantum histories

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