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Smooth Quantum Mechanics

Stoica, Cristi (2008) Smooth Quantum Mechanics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I show that the apparent wave function collapse can take place smoothly, without discontinuities. The projections on the observable's eigenspaces can be obtained by a delayed initial condition, imposed to the smooth time evolution of the observed system entangled with the measurement device used for the preparation. Since the quantum state of this device is not available entirely to the observer, its unknown degrees of freedom inject, by the means of entanglement, an apparent randomness in the observed system, leading to a probabilistic behavior. Thus, we can construct a Smooth Quantum Mechanics (SQM), without the need of discontinuities in time evolution. The probabilities occur therefore because not all the systems involved have determined quantum states. The evolution is deterministic, but for an observer, who has access only to an incomplete set of initial conditions, it appears to be indeterministic.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Stoica, Cristi
Keywords: Quantum mechanics interpretation; wave function collapse; state vector reduction; quantum measurement; projection postulate; many worlds interpretation; hidden variables; non-locality; realism; determinism vs. indeterminism; determinism vs. free will
Subjects: General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Ovidiu Cristinel Stoica
Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2008
Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 15:17
Item ID: 4344
Subjects: General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: November 2008
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4344

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