Abstract
In previous articles, we presented a derivation of Born’s rule and unitary transforms in Quantum Mechanics (QM), from a simple set of axioms built upon a physical phenomenology of quantization—physically, the structure of QM results of an interplay between the quantized number of “modalities” accessible to a quantum system, and the continuum of “contexts” required to define these modalities. In the present article, we provide a unified picture of quantum measurements within our approach, and justify further the role of the system–context dichotomy, and of quantum interferences. We also discuss links with stochastic quantum thermodynamics, and with algebraic quantum theory.
Highlights
Quantum measurements are present everywhere in current experimental physics, for instance when using individual qubits in quantum information research [1]
In previous works [12,13], we have shown that the quantum formalism can be deduced using a simple set of axioms built upon a physical phenomenology of quantization
Given that the algebraic formalism is a tool to calculate probabilities, what are the physical objects, properties and events that are described by these probabilities? A simple and consistent definition of these physical objects and events is that they are nothing but the quantum systems, measurement devices, and measurement results, in agreement with the CSM ontology [8]
Summary
Quantum measurements are present everywhere in current experimental physics, for instance when using individual qubits in quantum information research [1]. Obvious examples are the Stern–Gerlach measurement for the spin (entanglement between the spin and the momentum, between the spin and the position, and detection of the position), or Quantum Non Demolition (QND) measurement of a qubit state (entanglement with another “ancilla” qubit, and direct detection of the ancilla) This “two-step” quantum measurement process has been controversial since the beginning of Quantum Mechanics (QM) because its second part (the projection) breaks the reversible unitarity of the evolution that would be expected from Schrödinger’s equation: This is the famous “collapse of the wave-function” that intrinsically binds together quantum measurement and irreversibility. For CSM, this state does not characterize the sole system as usually considered, but it is attributed jointly to the system and to the specified context, including e.g., the orientation of polarizers or magnets To underline this difference, we call this “state” a modality. We will show below that the algebraic formalism is suitable for our purpose, and can manage quantum measurements, in a way compatible with our approach
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