Quantum mechanics as a consistency condition on initial and final boundary conditions

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2008.04.006MaRDI QIDQ643489zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors David J. Miller

Publication date 31 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/quant-ph/0607169

zbMATH Keywords

boundary conditionstime-symmetric quantum mechanicsadvanced actionblock universe

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05)

Abstract: If the block universe view is correct, the future and the past have similar status and one would expect physical theories to involve final as well as initial boundary conditions. A plausible consistency condition between the initial and final boundary conditions in non-relativistic quantum mechanics leads to the idea that the properties of macroscopic quantum systems, relevantly measuring instruments, are uniquely determined by the boundary conditions. An important element in reaching that conclusion is that preparations and measurements belong in a special class because they involve many subsystems, at least some of which do not form superpositions of their physical properties before the boundary conditions are imposed. It is suggested that the primary role of the formalism of standard quantum mechanics is to provide the consistency condition on the boundary conditions rather than the properties of quantum systems. Expressions are proposed for assigning a set of (unmeasured) physical properties to a quantum system at all times. The physical properties avoid the logical inconsistencies implied by the no-go theorems because they are assigned differently from standard quantum mechanics. Since measurement outcomes are determined by the boundary conditions, they help determine, rather than are determined by, the physical properties of quantum systems.

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Cited in

(3)

• Condition for Any Realistic Theory of Quantum Systems
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