Observation and superselection in quantum mechanics

DOI10.1016/1355-2198(95)00001-AMaRDI QIDQ639744zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors 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)

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

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

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

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.

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Cited in

(10)

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

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