Abstract
Despite various parallels between quantum states and ordinary information, quantum no-go-theorems have convinced many that there is no realistic framework that might underly quantum theory, no reality that quantum states can represent knowledge about. This paper develops the case that there is a plausible underlying reality: one actual spacetime-based history, although with behavior that appears strange when analyzed dynamically (one time-slice at a time). By using a simple model with no dynamical laws, it becomes evident that this behavior is actually quite natural when analyzed “all-at-once” (as in classical action principles). From this perspective, traditional quantum states would represent incomplete information about possible spacetime histories, conditional on the future measurement geometry. Without dynamical laws imposing additional restrictions, those histories can have a classical probability distribution, where exactly one history can be said to represent an underlying reality.
Highlights
There are many parallels between quantum states and states of classical knowledge
The main result of this paper is to show how non-dynamical models can naturally resolve the quantum reality problem using the “all-at-once”-style analysis of action principles
The alternative to the Newtonian Schema Universe (NSU) is well-developed and well-known: Lagrangian-based action principles. These are perhaps thought of as more a mathematical trick than as an alternative to dynamical equations, but the fact remains that all of classical physics can be recovered from action-extremization, and Lagrangian Quantum Field Theory is strongly based on these principles as well
Summary
A substantial number of quantum phenomena (including entanglement and teleportation) can be shown to have a strong analog in classical systems for which one has restricted knowledge [1], and the quantum collapse is strongly reminiscent of Bayesian updating upon learning new information [2]. This paper will lay out the case that treating the quantum state as a state of knowledge does not require the “It from Bit" viewpoint This will be accomplished by demonstrating that—despite the no-go theorems and conventional wisdom—quantum states can be recast as incomplete classical information about an underlying spacetime-based reality. The main result of this paper is to show how non-dynamical models can naturally resolve the quantum reality problem using the “all-at-once”-style analysis of action principles (and certain aspects of classical statistical mechanics) This perspective naturally recasts our supposedly-complete information about quantum systems into incomplete information about an underlying, spacetime-based reality. We may still choose to reject this option, but the mere fact that it is on the table might encourage us not to redefine information as fundamental—especially as it becomes clear just how poorly-informed we are
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