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On the Debate Concerning the Proper Characterisation of Quantum Dynamical Evolution

Cuffaro, Michael E. and Myrvold, Wayne C. (2013) On the Debate Concerning the Proper Characterisation of Quantum Dynamical Evolution. Philosophy of Science, 80 (5). pp. 1125-1136.

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Abstract

There has been a long-standing and sometimes passionate debate between physicists over whether a dynamical framework for quantum systems should incorporate not completely positive (NCP) maps in addition to completely positive (CP) maps. Despite the reasonableness of the arguments for complete positivity, we argue that NCP maps should be allowed, with a qualification: these should be understood, not as reflecting 'not completely positive' evolution, but as linear extensions, to a system's entire state space, of CP maps that are only partially defined. Beyond the domain of definition of a partial-CP map, we argue, much may be permitted.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Cuffaro, Michael E.mike@michaelcuffaro.com
Myrvold, Wayne C.wmyrvold@uwo.ca
Additional Information: This is a preprint of the published article. See the published version for small clarificatory changes and corrections.
Keywords: open quantum systems; quantum dynamics; dynamical maps; assignment maps; not completely positive maps
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Michael Cuffaro
Date Deposited: 10 Jan 2014 16:42
Last Modified: 10 Jan 2014 16:42
Item ID: 10210
Journal or Publication Title: Philosophy of Science
Official URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/673733
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1086/673733
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: December 2013
Page Range: pp. 1125-1136
Volume: 80
Number: 5
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10210

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