Implications of quantum theory in the foundations of statistical mechanics

Wallace, David (2001) Implications of quantum theory in the foundations of statistical mechanics.

Abstract

An investigation is made into how the foundations of
statistical mechanics are affected once we treat classical mechanics as an approximation to quantum mechanics in certain domains rather than as a theory in its own right; this is necessary if we are to understand statistical-mechanical systems in our own world. Relevant structural and dynamical differences are identified between classical and quantum mechanics (partly through analysis of technical work on quantum chaos by other authors). These imply that quantum mechanics significantly affects a number of foundational questions, including the nature of statistical probability and the direction of time.