Big toy models. Representing physical systems as Chu spaces

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Publication:383003

DOI10.1007/S11229-011-9912-XzbMATH Open1275.81008arXiv0910.2393OpenAlexW4289255633WikidataQ57006488 ScholiaQ57006488MaRDI QIDQ383003FDOQ383003

Samson Abramsky

Publication date: 25 November 2013

Published in: Synthese (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We pursue a model-oriented rather than axiomatic approach to the foundations of Quantum Mechanics, with the idea that new models can often suggest new axioms. This approach has often been fruitful in Logic and Theoretical Computer Science. Rather than seeking to construct a simplified toy model, we aim for a `big toy model', in which both quantum and classical systems can be faithfully represented - as well as, possibly, more exotic kinds of systems. To this end, we show how Chu spaces can be used to represent physical systems of various kinds. In particular, we show how quantum systems can be represented as Chu spaces over the unit interval in such a way that the Chu morphisms correspond exactly to the physically meaningful symmetries of the systems - the unitaries and antiunitaries. In this way we obtain a full and faithful functor from the groupoid of Hilbert spaces and their symmetries to Chu spaces. We also consider whether it is possible to use a finite value set rather than the unit interval; we show that three values suffice, while the two standard possibilistic reductions to two values both fail to preserve fullness.


Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0910.2393





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