Revisiting consistency conditions for quantum states of systems on closed timelike curves: an epistemic perspective

DOI10.1007/S10701-012-9635-YzbMATH Open1242.81012arXiv1005.2438OpenAlexW3102982188WikidataQ59437193 ScholiaQ59437193MaRDI QIDQ436963FDOQ436963

Authors: Joel J. Wallman, S. D. Bartlett 

Publication date: 17 July 2012

Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: There has been considerable recent interest in the consequences of closed timelike curves (CTCs) for the dynamics of quantum mechanical systems. A vast majority of research into this area makes use of the dynamical equations developed by Deutsch, which were developed from a consistency condition that assumes that mixed quantum states uniquely describe the physical state of a system. We criticise this choice of consistency condition from an epistemic perspective, i.e., a perspective in which the quantum state represents a state of knowledge about a system. We demonstrate that directly applying Deutsch's condition when mixed states are treated as representing an observer's knowledge of a system can conceal time travel paradoxes from the observer, rather than resolving them. To shed further light on the appropriate dynamics for quantum systems traversing CTCs, we make use of a toy epistemic theory with a strictly classical ontology due to Spekkens and show that, in contrast to the results of Deutsch, many of the traditional paradoxical effects of time travel are present.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1005.2438

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zbMATH Keywords

closed timelike curvesepistemic interpretation

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum mechanics on special spaces: manifolds, fractals, graphs, lattices (81Q35) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05)

Cites Work

• Closed timelike curves make quantum and classical computing equivalent
• Einstein, incompleteness, and the epistemic view of quantum states
• An Example of a New Type of Cosmological Solutions of Einstein's Field Equations of Gravitation
• Closed timelike curves produced by pairs of moving cosmic strings: Exact solutions

Cited In (13)

• Perfect state distinguishability and computational speedups with postselected closed timelike curves
• Reversible time travel with freedom of choice
• Reversible dynamics with closed time-like curves and freedom of choice
• Localized qubits in curved spacetimes
• Closed timelike curves and chronology protection in quantum and classical simulators
• Time travel: Deutsch vs. teleportation
• The D-CTC condition in quantum field theory
• The metaphysics of D-CTCs: on the underlying assumptions of deutschs quantum solution to the paradoxes of time travel
• The D-CTC condition is generically fulfilled in classical (Non-quantum) statistical systems
• Computational tameness of classical non-causal models
• Photonic mode in a space-time with a causal loop: comparison of D-CTC and S-CTC models
• Revisiting integer factorization using closed timelike curves
• Wormhole time machines and multiple histories

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