Why the Hamilton operator alone is not enough

DOI10.1007/S10701-009-9299-4zbMATH Open1175.81011arXiv0901.3262OpenAlexW3102503811MaRDI QIDQ735181FDOQ735181

Authors: Ilja Schmelzer 

Publication date: 21 October 2009

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

Abstract: In the many worlds community seems to exist a belief that the physics of a quantum theory is completely defined by it's Hamilton operator given in an abstract Hilbert space, especially that the position basis may be derived from it as preferred using decoherence techniques. We show, by an explicit example of non-uniqueness, taken from the theory of the KdV equation, that the Hamilton operator alone is not sufficient to fix the physics. We need the canonical operators p, q as well. As a consequence, it is not possible to derive a "preferred basis" from the Hamilton operator alone, without postulating some additional structure like a "decomposition into systems". We argue that this makes such a derivation useless for fundamental physics.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0901.3262

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zbMATH Keywords

decoherencepreferred basis problemmany worlds interpretation

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15)

Cites Work

• Method for Solving the Korteweg-deVries Equation
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Integrals of nonlinear equations of evolution and solitary waves
• A Suggested Interpretation of the Quantum Theory in Terms of "Hidden" Variables. I
• Solving the measurement problem: de Broglie-Bohm loses out to Everett
• On schizophrenic experiences of the neutron or why we should believe in the many‐worlds interpretation of quantum theory
• Korteweg-deVries equation, I. Global existence of smooth solutions

Cited In (3)

• Pure quantum interpretations are not viable
• Imprints of the quantum world in classical mechanics
• Interpretation miniatures

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