Discreteness and the origin of probability in quantum mechanics
arXiv:hep-th/0606062 · doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2006.07.050
Abstract
Attempts to derive the Born rule, either in the Many Worlds or Copenhagen interpretation, are unsatisfactory for systems with only a finite number of degrees of freedom. In the case of Many Worlds this is a serious problem, since its goal is to account for apparent collapse phenomena, including the Born rule for probabilities, assuming only unitary evolution of the wavefunction. For finite number of degrees of freedom, observers on the vast majority of branches would not deduce the Born rule. However, discreteness of the quantum state space, even if extremely tiny, may restore the validity of the usual arguments.
arXiv comment5 pages, revtex, 1 figure. Revised version, to appear in Physics Letters B. (Small clarifcation, references added.)
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