A formal framework for the study of the notion of undefined particle number in quantum mechanics

DOI10.1007/S11229-014-0583-2zbMATH Open1359.81014arXiv1305.5244OpenAlexW2110870408MaRDI QIDQ514076FDOQ514076

Authors: Newton Costa, F. Holik 

Publication date: 8 March 2017

Published in: Synthese (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: It is usually stated that quantum mechanics presents problems with the identity of particles, the most radical position -supported by E. Schrodinger- asserting that elementary particles are not individuals. But the subject goes deeper, and it is even possible to obtain states with an undefined particle number. In this work we present a set theoretical framework for the description of undefined particle number states in quantum mechanics which provides a precise logical meaning for this notion. This construction goes in the line of solving a problem posed by Y. Manin, namely, to incorporate quantum mechanical notions at the foundations of mathematics. We also show that our system is capable of representing quantum superpositions.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1305.5244

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zbMATH Keywords

set theoryquantum indistinguishabilityquantum mereologyquantum superpositionsundefined particle number

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Many-body theory; quantum Hall effect (81V70)

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