Some Consequences of the Thermodynamic Cost of System Identification

Abstract

The concept of a ``system'' is foundational to physics, but the question of how observers identify systems is seldom addressed. Classical thermodynamics restricts observers to finite, finite-resolution observations with which to identify the systems on which ``pointer state'' measurements are to be made. It is shown that system identification is at best approximate, even in a finite world, and that violations of the Leggett--Garg and Bell/CHSH (Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt) inequalities emerge naturally as requirements for successful system identification.

22 pgs, 3 figures. Published version

References in corpus (7)

• Reference frames, superselection rules, and quantum information
• Quantum Darwinism
• QBism, the Perimeter of Quantum Bayesianism
• Between classical and quantum
• Quantum information becomes classical when distributed to many users
• Quantum Darwinism requires an extra-theoretical assumption of encoding redundancy
• An Anomalously Elastic, Intermediate Phase in Randomly Layered Superfluids, Superconductors, and Planar Magnets

Cited by in corpus (5)

• A free energy principle for generic quantum systems
• Neurons as hierarchies of quantum reference frames
• The Free Energy Principle drives neuromorphic development
• Timelessness strictly inside the Quantum Realm
• Sharing nonfungible information requires shared nonfungible information