The quantum formalism and the GRW formalism

DOI10.1007/S10955-012-0587-6zbMATH Open1260.82006arXiv0710.0885OpenAlexW1982371456WikidataQ62036715 ScholiaQ62036715MaRDI QIDQ690633FDOQ690633

Roderich Tumulka, Nino Zanghì, Sheldon Goldstein

Publication date: 28 November 2012

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

Abstract: The Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) theory of spontaneous wave function collapse is known to provide a quantum theory without observers, in fact two different ones by using either the matter density ontology (GRWm) or the flash ontology (GRWf). Both theories are known to make predictions different from those of quantum mechanics, but the difference is so small that no decisive experiment can as yet be performed. While some testable deviations from quantum mechanics have long been known, we provide here something that has until now been missing: a formalism that succinctly summarizes the empirical predictions of GRWm and GRWf. We call it the GRW formalism. Its structure is similar to that of the quantum formalism but involves different operators. In other words, we establish the validity of a general algorithm for directly computing the testable predictions of GRWm and GRWf. We further show that some well-defined quantities cannot be measured in a GRWm or GRWf world.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0710.0885

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zbMATH Keywords

quantum measurement theoryprimitive ontologycompletely positive superoperatorempirical predictionsGhirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) theory of spontaneous wave functions collapselimitations to knowledgepositive-operator-valued measure (POVM)predicted deviations from quantum mechanicsquantum theory without observers

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Stochastic mechanics (including stochastic electrodynamics) (81P20) Foundations of equilibrium statistical mechanics (82B03)

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Cited In (6)

• Newtonian semiclassical gravity in the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber theory with matter density ontology
• Primitive ontology and quantum state in the GRW matter density theory
• Electron charge density: a clue from quantum chemistry for quantum foundations
• Detecting wave function collapse without prior knowledge
• A Kolmogorov extension theorem for POVMs
• Sensible quantum experiences: encounters with Stein's philosophy of quantum mechanics

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