Foundations of quantum physics I. A critique of the tradition
arXiv:1902.10778
Abstract
This paper gives a thorough critique of the foundations of quantum physics in its mainstream interpretation (i.e., treating pure states as primitives, without reference to hidden variables, and without modifications of the quantum laws). This is achieved by cleanly separating a concise version of the (universally accepted) formal core of quantum physics from the (controversial) interpretation issues. The latter are primarily related to measurement, but also to questions of existence and of the meaning of basic concepts like 'state' and 'particle'. The requirements for good foundations of quantum physics are discussed. Main results: * Born's rule cannot be valid universally, and must be considered as a scientific law with a restricted domain of validity. * If the state of every composite quantum system contains all information that can be known about this system, it cannot be a pure state in general.
arXiv comment45 pages, small improvement compared to v1
References in corpus (8)
- Decoherence, the measurement problem, and interpretations of quantum mechanics
- Understanding quantum measurement from the solution of dynamical models
- Translation of "Die Messung quantenmechanischer Operatoren" by E.P.~Wigner
- A time-dependent perturbative analysis for a quantum particle in a cloud chamber
- Localization and Entanglement in Relativistic Quantum Physics
- Classical and Quantum Mechanics via Lie algebras
- The Discovery of Squeezed States - In 1927
- Fragmentation of brittle plates by localized impact