Observation and superselection in quantum mechanics

DOI10.1016/1355-2198(95)00001-AzbMATH Open1222.81114arXivhep-th/9411173OpenAlexW2090453300MaRDI QIDQ639744FDOQ639744

Klaas Landsman

Publication date: 11 October 2011

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We attempt to clarify the main conceptual issues in approaches to `objectification' or `measurement' in quantum mechanics which are based on superselection rules. Such approaches venture to derive the emergence of classical `reality' relative to a class of observers; those believing that the classical world exists intrinsically and absolutely are advised against reading this paper. The prototype approach (Hepp) where superselection sectors are assumed in the state space of the apparatus is shown to be untenable. Instead, one should couple system and apparatus to an environment, and postulate superselection rules for the latter. These are motivated by the locality of any observer or other (actual or virtual) monitoring system. In this way `environmental' solutions to the measurement problem (Zeh, Zurek) become consistent and acceptable, too. Points of contact with the modal interpretation are briefly discussed. We propose a minimal value attribution to observables in theories with superselection rules, in which only central observables have properties. In particular, the eigenvector-eigenvalue link is dropped. This is mainly motivated by Ockham's razor.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9411173

Recommendations

• Superselection rules for philosophers
• A model-theoretic interpretation of environment-induced superselection
• On superselection rules in Bohm–Bell theories
• ALGEBRAIC THEORY OF SUPERSELECTION SECTORS AND THE MEASUREMENT PROBLEM IN QUANTUM MECHANICS
• A note on measurement

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15)

Cites Work

• Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Kochen-Specker theorem in the modal interpretation of quantum mechanics
• An Algebraic Approach to Quantum Field Theory
• On wave packet reduction in the Coleman-Hepp model.
• Modal interpretations, decoherence and measurements
• Robustness in quantum measurements
• ALGEBRAIC THEORY OF SUPERSELECTION SECTORS AND THE MEASUREMENT PROBLEM IN QUANTUM MECHANICS
• Physical motivation of the modal interpretation of quantum mechanics
• Superselection rules, quantum measurement, and the Schrödinger's cat.

Cited In (9)

• Superselection from canonical constraints
• Construction and uniqueness of the C*-Weyl algebra over a general pre-symplectic space
• A flea on Schrödinger's cat
• Object-subject split and superselection partial spaces
• Understanding quantum superarrivals using the Bohmian model
• On superselection rules in Bohm–Bell theories
• A remark on Machida-Namiki theory of measurement.
• Superselection rules for philosophers
• Seeing wave-particle superposition with cavity input-output process

This page was built for publication: Observation and superselection in quantum mechanics

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q639744)