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Quantum mechanics requires "conspiracy"

Stoica, Ovidiu Cristinel (2022) Quantum mechanics requires "conspiracy". [Preprint]

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Abstract

Quantum states containing records of incompatible outcomes of quantum measurements are valid states in the tensor product Hilbert space. Since they contain false records, they conflict with the Born rule and with our observations. I show that excluding them requires a fine-tuning to a zero-measure subspace of the Hilbert space that seems "conspiratorial", in the sense that

- it depends on future events, in particular of future choices of the measurement settings,

- it depends on the evolution law (normally thought to be independent of the initial conditions),

- it violates statistical independence (even in interpretations that satisfy it in the context of Bell's theorem, like standard quantum mechanics, pilot-wave theories, collapse theories, many-worlds etc.).

Even the innocent assumption that there are measuring devices requires this kind of fine tuning.

These results are independent of the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

To explain away this apparent fine-tuning, I propose that an yet unknown law or superselection rule may restrict the full tensor product Hilbert space to this very special subspace.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Stoica, Ovidiu Cristinelholotronix@gmail.com0000-0002-2765-1562
Keywords: Born rule; fine-tuning; statistical independence; memories; Bell's theorem; superdeterminism
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Depositing User: Ovidiu Cristinel Stoica
Date Deposited: 27 Sep 2022 12:25
Last Modified: 27 Sep 2022 12:25
Item ID: 21212
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Date: 27 September 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21212

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