Observers and Locality in Everett Quantum Field Theory
arXiv:0909.2673 · doi:10.1007/s10701-011-9543-6
Abstract
A model for measurement in collapse-free nonrelativistic fermionic quantum field theory is presented. In addition to local propagation and effectively-local interactions, the model incorporates explicit representations of localized observers, thus extending an earlier model of entanglement generation in Everett quantum field theory [M. A. Rubin, Found. Phys. 32, 1495-1523 (2002)]. Transformations of the field operators from the Heisenberg picture to the Deutsch-Hayden picture, involving fictitious auxiliary fields, establish the locality of the model. The model is applied to manifestly-local calculations of the results of measurements, using a type of sudden approximation and in the limit of massive systems in narrow-wavepacket states. Detection of the presence of a spin-1/2 system in a given spin state by a freely-moving two-state observer illustrates the features of the model and the nonperturbative computational methodology. With the help of perturbation theory the model is applied to a calculation of the quintessential "nonlocal" quantum phenomenon, spin correlations in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm experiment.
Some changes to introduction and discussion sections, typos corrected, conclusions unchanged. To appear in Foundations of Physics
References in corpus (12)
- Decoherence, the measurement problem, and interpretations of quantum mechanics
- The Quantum Measurement Problem: State of Play
- Nonlocality and information flow: The approach of Deutsch and Hayden
- Entanglement and Relativity
- An introduction to many worlds in quantum computation
- Non-locality and gauge freedom in Deutsch and Hayden's formulation of quantum mechanics
- Developing the Deutsch-Hayden approach to quantum mechanics
- Entanglement without nonlocality
- Formalism Locality in Quantum Theory and Quantum Gravity
- There Is No Basis Ambiguity in Everett Quantum Mechanics
- Spatial Degrees of Freedom in Everett Quantum Mechanics
- Relative Frequency and Probability in the Everett Interpretation of Heisenberg-Picture Quantum Mechanics
Cited by in corpus (5)
- Vindication of Quantum Locality
- Probability, Preclusion and Biological Evolution in Heisenberg-Picture Everett Quantum Mechanics
- How can quantum field operators encode entanglement?
- Reverse quantum speed limit and minimum Hilbert space norm
- Explanation, Evolution and Subjective Probability in Everett Quantum Mechanics with Positive Preclusion