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The Montevideo Interpretation: How the inclusion of a Quantum Gravitational Notion of Time Solves the Measurement Problem

Rodolfo, Gambini and Jorge, Pullin (2020) The Montevideo Interpretation: How the inclusion of a Quantum Gravitational Notion of Time Solves the Measurement Problem. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We review the Montevideo Interpretation of quantum mechanics, which is based on the use of real clocks to describe physics, using the framework recently introduced by Hoehn, Smith and Lock to treat the problem of time in generally covariant systems. The use of the new formalism makes the whole construction more accessible to readers without familiarity with totally constrained systems. We find that as in the original formulation, a fundamental mechanism of decoherence emerges that allows to supplement ordinary environmental decoherence and avoid its criticisms. Recent results on quantum complexity provide additional support to the type of global protocols used to prove that within ordinary ---unitary--- quantum mechanics no definite event ---an outcome to which a probability can be associated--- occurs. In lieu of this, states that start in a coherent superposition of possible outcomes always remain as a superposition. We show that, if one takes into account fundamental inescapable uncertainties in measuring length and time intervals due to general relativity and quantum mechanics, the previously mentioned global protocols no longer allow to distinguish whether the state is in a superposition or not.
One is left with a formulation of quantum mechanics purely defined in quantum mechanical terms without any reference to the classical world and with an intrinsic operational definition of quantum events that does not need external observers.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Rodolfo, Gambinirgambini@fisica.edu.uy
Jorge, Pullinpullin@lsu.edu0000-0001-8248-603X
Keywords: Measurement problem; real clocks
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Jorge Pullin
Date Deposited: 03 Nov 2020 00:17
Last Modified: 03 Nov 2020 00:17
Item ID: 18327
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 27 October 2020
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18327

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