Are observables necessarily Hermitian?

DOI10.1007/S40509-016-0098-2zbMATH Open1387.81217arXiv1601.04287OpenAlexW2344596259MaRDI QIDQ1701535FDOQ1701535

Authors: Peng Zhang 

Publication date: 27 February 2018

Published in: Quantum Studies: Mathematics and Foundations (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Observables are believed that they must be Hermitian in quantum theory. Based on the obviously physical fact that only eigenstates of observable and its corresponding probabilities, i.e., spectrum distribution of observable are actually observed, we argue that observables need not necessarily to be Hermitian. More generally, observables should be reformulated as normal operators including Hermitian operators as a subclass. This reformulation is consistent with the quantum theory currently used and does not change any physical results. The Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality is taken as an example to show that our opinion does not conflict with conventional quantum theory and gives the same physical results. Reformulation of observables as normal operators not only coincides with the physical facts but also will deepen our understanding of measurement in quantum theory.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1601.04287

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zbMATH Keywords

normal operatorquantum measurementnon-Hermitian observable

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Selfadjoint operator theory in quantum theory, including spectral analysis (81Q10) Nonselfadjoint operator theory in quantum theory including creation and destruction operators (81Q12) Hermitian and normal operators (spectral measures, functional calculus, etc.) (47B15)

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Cited In (3)

• Bell-CHSH inequality and unitary operators
• A scheme for performing strong and weak sequential measurements of non-commuting observables
• Observables, disassembled

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