2024-03-28T11:59:03Z
http:///cgi/oai2
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:2438
2010-10-07T15:13:36Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2438/
The Grammar of Teleportation
Timpson, Christopher Gordon
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Whilst a straightforward consequence of the formalism of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, the phenomenon of quantum teleportation has given rise to considerable puzzlement. In this paper, the teleportation protocol is reviewed and these puzzles dispelled. It is suggested that they arise from two primary sources: 1) the familiar error of hypostatizing an abstract noun (in this case, `information') and 2) failure to differentiate interpretation dependent from interpretation independent features of quantum mechanics. A subsidiary source of error, the simulation fallacy, is also identified. The resolution presented of the puzzles of teleportation illustrates the benefits of paying due attention to the logical status of `information' as an abstract noun.
2005-08
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2438/1/grammar.pdf
Timpson, Christopher Gordon (2005) The Grammar of Teleportation. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:2535
2010-10-07T15:13:44Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:7468656F72792D6368616E6765
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2535/
Explaining the Unobserved: Why Quantum Mechanics Is Not only About Information
Hagar, Amit
Hemmo, Meir
Quantum
Theory Change
Explanation
Quantum Mechanics
A remarkable theorem by Clifton, Bub and Halverson (2003) (CBH) characterizes quantum theory in terms of information--theoretic principles. According to Bub (2004, 2005) the philosophical significance of the theorem is that quantum theory should be regarded as a ``principle'' theory about (quantum) information rather than a ``constructive'' theory about the dynamics of quantum systems. Here we propose an alternative view according to which the philosophical significance of the CBH theorem lies in the predictions of quantum theory which remain hitherto unobserved, and in the empirical inequivalence between the constructive and the principle explanations thereof. We further challenge the principle information--theoretic view with a thought experiment that stems from this empirical inequivalence.
2005-11
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2535/1/OnBub-FINAL.pdf
Hagar, Amit and Hemmo, Meir (2005) Explaining the Unobserved: Why Quantum Mechanics Is Not only About Information. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:2642
2010-10-07T15:13:55Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:7468656F72792D6368616E6765
7375626A656374733D67656E:6F7065726174696F6E616C69736D2D696E7374756D656E74616C69736D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2642/
Explaining the Unobserved: Why Quantum Theory Ain't Only About Information
Hagar, Amit
Hemmo, Meir
Quantum
Theory Change
Operationalism/Instrumentalism
Quantum Mechanics
A remarkable theorem by Clifton, Bub and Halvorson (2003) (CBH) characterizes quantum theory in terms of information--theoretic principles. According to Bub (2004, 2005) the philosophical significance of the theorem is that quantum theory should be regarded as a ``principle'' theory about (quantum) information rather than a ``constructive'' theory about the dynamics of quantum systems. Here we criticize Bub's principle approach arguing that if the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics remains intact then there is no escape route from solving the measurement problem by constructive theories. We further propose a (Wigner--type) thought experiment that we argue demonstrates that quantum mechanics on the information--theoretic approach is incomplete.
2006-02
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2642/1/Hagar-Hemmo_FP_final.pdf
Hagar, Amit and Hemmo, Meir (2006) Explaining the Unobserved: Why Quantum Theory Ain't Only About Information. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:3180
2010-10-07T15:14:53Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/3180/
Quantum Hypercomputation - Hype or Computation?
Hagar, Amit
Korolev, Alex
Quantum
Classical
Computer Science
Quantum Mechanics
A recent attempt to compute a (recursion--theoretic) non--computable function using the quantum adiabatic algorithm is criticized and found wanting. Quantum algorithms may outperform classical algorithms in some cases, but so far they retain the classical (recursion--theoretic) notion of computability. A speculation is then offered as to where the putative power of quantum computers may come from.
2007-01
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/3180/1/Quantum_Hype.pdf
Hagar, Amit and Korolev, Alex (2007) Quantum Hypercomputation - Hype or Computation? [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:3714
2010-10-07T15:15:56Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:70726F626162696C6974792D73746174697374696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/3714/
The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities
E. Szabó, László
Probability/Statistics
Quantum
Causation
Relativity Theory
Physics
Quantum Mechanics
In 1935 Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) published an important paper in which they claimed that the whole formalism of quantum mechanics together with what they called ``Reality Criterion'' imply that quantum mechanics cannot be complete. That is, there must exist some elements of reality that are not described by quantum mechanics. There must be, they concluded, a more complete description of physical reality behind quantum mechanics. There must be a state, a hidden variable, characterizing the state of affairs in the world in more details than the quantum mechanical state, something that also reflects the missing elements of reality. Under some further but quite plausible assumptions, this conclusion implies that in some spin-correlation experiments the measured quantum mechanical probabilities should satisfy particular inequalities (Bell-type inequalities). The paradox consists in the fact that quantum probabilities do not satisfy these inequalities. And this paradoxical fact has been confirmed by several laboratory experiments in the last three decades. The problem is still open and hotly debated among both physicists and philosophers. It has motivated a wide range of research from the most fundamental quantum mechanical experiments through foundations of probability theory to the theory of stochastic causality as well as the metaphysics of free will.
2007-12
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/3714/1/epr-bell-iep-preprint.pdf
E. Szabó, László (2007) The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Argument and the Bell Inequalities. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:8748
2011-08-10T11:09:28Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:62696F6C6F6779:62696F6C6F67792D65766F6C7574696F6E6172792D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E63652D6172746966696369616C2D696E74656C6C6967656E6365
7375626A656374733D67656E:636F6E6669726D6174696F6E2D696E64756374696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:65636F6E6F6D696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:666F726D616C2D6C6561726E696E672D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8748/
Why Philosophers Should Care About Computational Complexity
Aaronson, Scott
Classical
Evolutionary Theory
Quantum
Artificial Intelligence
Confirmation/Induction
Economics
Formal Learning Theory
Mathematics
Quantum Mechanics
One might think that, once we know something is computable, how efficiently it can be computed is a practical question with little further philosophical importance. In this essay, I offer a detailed case that one would be wrong. In particular, I argue that computational complexity theory---the field that studies the resources (such as time, space, and randomness) needed to solve computational problems---leads to new perspectives on the nature of mathematical knowledge, the strong AI debate, computationalism, the problem of logical omniscience, Hume's problem of induction and Goodman's grue riddle, the foundations of quantum mechanics, economic rationality, closed timelike curves, and several other topics of philosophical interest. I end by discussing aspects of complexity theory itself that could benefit from philosophical analysis.
2011-08-09
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8748/1/philos.pdf
Aaronson, Scott (2011) Why Philosophers Should Care About Computational Complexity. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:8837
2012-01-11T11:15:10Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8837/
Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis
Cuffaro, Michael
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is not licensed by, and in fact is conceptually inferior to, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics from which it is derived. I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is incompatible with the recently developed cluster state model of quantum computation. Based on these considerations I conclude that we should reject the many worlds explanation of quantum computation.
2011-10-11
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8837/1/many_worlds_qc.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael (2011) Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:8969
2011-12-22T13:03:20Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6669656C642D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8969/
Wigner's Friend and Bell's Field Beables
Barrett, Jeffrey A.
Quantum
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
A field-theoretic version of Wigner's friend (1961) illustrates how the quantum measurement problem arises for field theory. Similarly, considering space like separate measurements of entangled fields by observers akin to Wigner's friend shows the sense in which relativistic constraints make the measurement problem particularly difficult to resolve in the context of a relativistic field theory. We will consider proposals by Wigner (1961), Bloch (1967), Helwig and Kraus (1970), and Bell (1984) for resolving the measurement problem for quantum field theory. We will conclude by considering the possibility of giving up rich dynamical explanation in the context of a many-maps formulation of relativistic quantum field theory.
2011-12-22
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8969/1/wigner_bell_2011.pdf
Barrett, Jeffrey A. (2011) Wigner's Friend and Bell's Field Beables. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:8988
2012-03-08T12:36:28Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8988/
Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis
Cuffaro, Michael
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is not licensed by, and in fact is conceptually inferior to, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics from which it is derived. I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is incompatible with the recently developed cluster state model of quantum computation. Based on these considerations I conclude that we should reject the many worlds explanation of quantum computation.
Elsevier
2012-01-09
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8988/4/many_worlds_qc.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael (2012) Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics. ISSN 1355-2198
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2011.11.007
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9008
2012-02-04T13:27:13Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9008/
Reflections on the Role of Entanglement in the Explanation of Quantum Computational Speedup
Cuffaro, Michael
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Of the many and varied applications of quantum information theory, perhaps the most fascinating is the sub-field of quantum computation. In this sub-field, computational algorithms are designed which utilise the resources available in quantum systems in order to compute solutions to computational problems with, in some cases, exponentially fewer resources than any known classical algorithm. While the fact of quantum computational speedup is almost beyond doubt, the source of quantum speedup is still a matter of debate. In this paper I argue that entanglement is a necessary component for any explanation of quantum speedup and I address some purported counter-examples that some claim show that the contrary is true. In particular, I address Cleve et al.'s solution to Deutsch's problem, Biham et al.'s mixed-state version of the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm, and Knill & Laflamme's deterministic quantum computation with one qubit (DQC1) model of quantum computation. I argue that these examples do not demonstrate that entanglement is unnecessary for the explanation of quantum speedup, but that they rather illuminate and clarify the role that entanglement does play.
2011-12-06
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9008/1/necessity_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael (2011) Reflections on the Role of Entanglement in the Explanation of Quantum Computational Speedup. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9043
2012-03-08T12:36:27Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9043/
Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis
Cuffaro, Michael
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is not licensed by, and in fact is conceptually inferior to, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics from which it is derived. I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is incompatible with the recently developed cluster state model of quantum computation. Based on these considerations I conclude that we should reject the many worlds explanation of quantum computation.
Elsevier
2012-02-01
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9043/4/many_worlds_qc.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael (2012) Many Worlds, the Cluster-state Quantum Computer, and the Problem of the Preferred Basis. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 43 (1). pp. 35-42. ISSN 1355-2198
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2011.11.007
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9325
2013-08-13T12:38:09Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9325/
Is Entanglement Sufficient to Enable Quantum Speedup?
Cuffaro, Michael
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, any quantum algorithm utilising operations chosen exclusively from a particular restricted set are efficiently simulable by a classical computer. Since some of these algorithms involve entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is insufficient to enable quantum speedup. As I explain, however, the operations belonging to this set are precisely those which will never yield a violation of the Bell inequalities. Thus it should be no surprise that entangled quantum states which only undergo operations in this set are efficiently simulable classically. What the Gottesman-Knill theorem shows us is that it is possible to use an entangled state to less than its full potential. Nevertheless, there is a meaningful sense in which entanglement is sufficient for quantum speedup: an entangled quantum state provides sufficient physical resources to enable quantum speedup, whether or not one elects to use these resources fully.
2012-09-14
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9325/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael (2012) Is Entanglement Sufficient to Enable Quantum Speedup? [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9656
2013-03-31T05:02:19Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D6F74686572
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9656/
On the Physical Explanation for Quantum Computational Speedup
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Explanation
Quantum Mechanics
The aim of this dissertation is to clarify the debate over the explanation of quantum speedup and to submit, for the reader's consideration, a tentative resolution to it. In particular, I argue, in this dissertation, that the physical explanation for quantum speedup is precisely the fact that the phenomenon of quantum entanglement enables a quantum computer to fully exploit the representational capacity of Hilbert space. This is impossible for classical systems, joint states of which must always be representable as product states.
I begin the dissertation by considering, in Chapter 2, the most popular of the candidate physical explanations for quantum speedup: the many worlds explanation of quantum computation. I argue that, although it is inspired by the neo-Everettian interpretation of quantum mechanics, unlike the latter it does not have the conceptual resources required to overcome objections such as the so-called `preferred basis objection'. I further argue that the many worlds explanation, at best, can serve as a good description of the physical process which takes place in so-called network-based computation, but that it is incompatible with other models of computation such as cluster state quantum computing. I next consider, in Chapter 3, a common component of most other candidate explanations of quantum speedup: quantum entanglement. I investigate whether entanglement can be said to be a necessary component of any explanation for quantum speedup, and I consider two major purported counter-examples to this claim. I argue that neither of these, in fact, show that entanglement is unnecessary for speedup, and that, on the contrary, we should conclude that it is. In Chapters 4 and 5 I then ask whether entanglement can be said to be sufficient as well. In Chapter 4 I argue that despite a result that seems to indicate the contrary, entanglement, considered as a resource, can be seen as sufficient to enable quantum speedup. Finally, in Chapter 5 I argue that entanglement is sufficient to explain quantum speedup as well.
Western Libraries
Other
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9656/1/CuffaroThesis.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. On the Physical Explanation for Quantum Computational Speedup. Western Libraries.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9908
2013-07-30T07:15:42Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D6F74686572
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9908/
On the connection between the categorical and the modal
logic approaches to Quantum Mechanics
Cinà, Giovanni
Quantum
Mathematics
Quantum Mechanics
This thesis aims at connecting the two research programs known as Categorical Quantum Mechanics and Dynamic Quantum Logic. This is achieved in three steps. First we define a procedure to extract a Modal Logic frame
from a small category and a functor into the category of sets and relations.
Second, we extend such methodology to locally small categories. Third, we apply it to the category of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces to recover the
semantics of Dynamic Quantum Logic.
This process prompts new lines of research. At a general level, we study some logics arising from wide classes of small categories. In the case of Hilbert spaces, we investigate how to obtain richer semantics, containing
probabilistic information. We design a logic for this semantics and prove that, via translation, it preserves the validities of Dynamic Quantum Logic.
ILLC
2013
Other
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9908/1/versione_completa_draft.pdf
Cinà, Giovanni (2013) On the connection between the categorical and the modal logic approaches to Quantum Mechanics. ILLC.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:9929
2014-04-07T13:58:15Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9929/
On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, quantum algorithms utilising operations chosen from a particular restricted set are efficiently simulable classically. Since some of these algorithms involve entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is not sufficient to enable quantum computers to outperform classical computers. It is argued in this paper, however, that what the Gottesman-Knill theorem shows us is only that if we limit ourselves to the Gottesman-Knill operations, we will not have used the entanglement with which we have been provided to its full potential, for all of the Gottesman-Knill operations are such that their associated statistics (even when they involve entangled states) are reproducible in a local hidden variables theory. It is further argued that considering the Gottesman-Knill theorem is illuminating, not only for our understanding of quantum computation, but also for our understanding of what we take to be a plausible local hidden variables theory, as well as for our understanding of the relationship between all-or-nothing inequalities such as GHZ, and statistical inequalities such as CHSH.
2013-08-13
Conference or Workshop Item
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9929/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2013) On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem. In: UNSPECIFIED.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:10004
2013-09-20T17:39:35Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10004/
On the possibility of nonlinear quantum evolution and superluminal communication
Gao, Shan
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
A possible mechanism of nonlinear quantum evolution is introduced and its implications for quantum communication are investigated. First, it is demonstrated that an appropriate combination of wavefunction collapse and the consciousness of observer may permit the observer to distinguish nonorthogonal quantum states in principle, and thus consciousness will introduce certain nonlinearity into quantum dynamics. Next, it is shown that the distinguishability of nonorthogonal states can be used to achieve quantum superluminal communication, by which information can be transmitted nonlocally and faster than the speed of light. Finally, the issue of apparent incompatibility between superluminal communication and special relativity is briefly addressed.
2013-09-18
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10004/1/Shan_Gao_-_QSC_2013.pdf
Gao, Shan (2013) On the possibility of nonlinear quantum evolution and superluminal communication. [Preprint]
http://www.ece.tamu.edu/~noise/HotPI_2013/HotPI_2013.html
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:10598
2014-11-01T14:09:46Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10598/
On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, quantum algorithms utilising operations chosen from a particular restricted set are efficiently simulable classically. Since some of these algorithms involve entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is insufficient to enable quantum computers to outperform classical computers. I argue, however, that what the Gottesman-Knill theorem shows us is only that if we limit ourselves to the Gottesman-Knill operations, we will not have used the entanglement provided to its full potential, for all of the Gottesman-Knill operations are such that their associated statistics (even when they involve entangled states) are reproducible in a local hidden variables theory that we would deem plausible in the context of a discussion of quantum computation.
2014-04-05
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10598/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:10770
2015-07-22T15:15:07Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10770/
How-Possibly Explanations in Quantum Computer Science
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Quantum
Explanation
A primary goal of quantum computer science is to find an explanation for the fact that quantum computers are more powerful than classical computers. In this paper I argue that to answer this question is to compare algorithmic processes of various kinds, and in so doing to describe the possibility spaces associated with these processes. By doing this we explain how it is possible for one process to outperform its rival. Further, in this and similar examples little is gained in subsequently asking a how-actually question. Once one has explained how-possibly there is little left to do.
2014
Conference or Workshop Item
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/10770/1/how_possibly.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) How-Possibly Explanations in Quantum Computer Science. In: UNSPECIFIED.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11108
2015-07-04T13:33:44Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11108/
On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, quantum algorithms which utilise only the operations belonging to a certain restricted set are efficiently simulable classically. Since some of the operations in this set generate entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is insufficient to enable quantum computers to outperform classical computers. I argue in this paper that this conclusion is misleading. First, the statement of the theorem (that the particular set of quantum operations in question can be simulated using a classical computer) is, on reflection, already evident when we consider Bell's and related inequalities in the context of a discussion of computational machines. This, in turn, helps us to understand that the appropriate conclusion to draw from the Gottesman-Knill theorem is not that entanglement is insufficient to enable a quantum performance advantage, but rather that if we limit ourselves to the operations referred to in the Gottesman-Knill theorem, we will not have used the resources provided by an entangled quantum system to their full potential.
2014-04-05
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11108/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11266
2015-01-24T22:45:13Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11266/
Quantum information as the information of infinite series
Penchev, Vasil
Computation/Information
Quantum
The quantum information introduced by quantum mechanics is equivalent to that generalization of the classical information from finite to infinite series or collections. The quantity of information is the quantity of choices measured in the units of elementary choice. The qubit can be interpreted as that generalization of bit, which is a choice among a continuum of alternatives. The axiom of choice is necessary for quantum information. The coherent state is transformed into a well-ordered series of results in time after measurement. The quantity of quantum information is the ordinal corresponding to the infinity series in question
2015-01-14
Conference or Workshop Item
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11266/1/AISB08wM%C3%BCnchen.pdf
Penchev, Vasil (2015) Quantum information as the information of infinite series. In: UNSPECIFIED.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11373
2015-03-13T23:15:39Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7265616C69736D2D616E74692D7265616C69736D
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11373/
On the Common Structure of the Primitive Ontology Approach and the Information-Theoretic Interpretation of Quantum Theory
Dunlap, Lucas
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Realism/Anti-realism
Structure of Theories
We use the primitive ontology framework of Allori et al. to analyze the quantum information-theoretic interpretation of Bub and Pitowsky. There are interesting parallels between the two approaches, which differentiate them both from the more standard realist interpretations of quantum theory. Where they differ, however, is in terms of their commitments to an underlying ontology on which the manifest image of the world supervenes. Employing the primitive ontology framework in this way makes perspicuous the differences between the quantum information-theoretic interpretation, and the various realist interpretations of quantum theory. It also allows us to identify a sense in which the commitments of quantum information-theoretic interpretation are underspecified. Several possible ways of completing the interpretation are presented, and it is suggested that the most likely strategy would leave the information-theoretic interpretation such that it would fail to qualify as a theory, according to the primitive ontology approach.
2015
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11373/1/PO_AEDU_Version_2.pdf
Dunlap, Lucas (2015) On the Common Structure of the Primitive Ontology Approach and the Information-Theoretic Interpretation of Quantum Theory. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11374
2015-03-13T23:16:57Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11374/
The Metaphysics of D-CTCs: On the Underlying Assumptions of Deutsch's Quantum Solution to the Paradoxes of Time Travel
Dunlap, Lucas
Computation/Information
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that Deutsch’s model for the behavior of systems traveling around closed timelike curves (CTCs) relies implicitly on a substantive metaphysical assumption. Deutsch is employing a version of quantum theory with a significantly supplemented ontology of parallel existent worlds, which differ in kind from the many worlds of the Everett interpretation. Standard Everett does not support the existence of multiple identical copies of the world, which the D-CTC model requires. This has been obscured because he often refers to the branching structure of Everett as a “multiverse”, and describes quantum interference by reference to parallel interacting definite worlds. But he admits that this is only an approximation to Everett. The D-CTC model, however, relies crucially on the existence of a multiverse of parallel interacting worlds. Since his model is supplemented by structures that go significantly beyond quantum theory, and play an ineliminable role in its predictions and explanations, it does not represent a quantum solution to the paradoxes of time travel.
2015
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11374/1/SMS_DCTC_AEDU_Version.pdf
Dunlap, Lucas (2015) The Metaphysics of D-CTCs: On the Underlying Assumptions of Deutsch's Quantum Solution to the Paradoxes of Time Travel. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11376
2015-03-13T23:18:23Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11376/
No information without manipulation
Lombardi, Olimpia
López, Cristian
Fortin, Sebastian
Classical
Causation
Quantum
The aim of the present paper is to supply an elucidation of the concept of information in the communicational context. For this purpose, two traditional interpretations of the concept of information, the epistemic and the physical interpretations, will be distinguished, and their specific problems will be considered. In particular, whereas the epistemic interpretation misses an essential feature of communication, the physical interpretation faces difficulties in the quantum domain. The final goal will be to argue that the difficulties of the physical interpretation can be overcome by means of a manipulability conception of causation.
2015-03
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11376/1/No_information_without_manipulation.pdf
Lombardi, Olimpia and López, Cristian and Fortin, Sebastian (2015) No information without manipulation. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11401
2015-04-06T18:57:26Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6669656C642D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11401/
A Categorial Semantic Representation of Quantum Event Structures
Zafiris, Elias
Karakostas, Vassilios
Quantum
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Structure of Theories
The overwhelming majority of the attempts in exploring the problems related to quantum logical structures and their interpretation have been based on an underlying set-theoretic syntactic language. We propose a transition in the involved syntactic language to tackle these problems from the set-theoretic to the category-theoretic mode, together with a study of the consequent semantic transition in the logical interpretation of quantum event structures. In the present work, this is realized by representing categorically the global structure of a quantum algebra of events (or propositions) in terms of sheaves of local Boolean frames forming Boolean localization functors. The category of sheaves is a topos providing the possibility of applying the powerful logical classiffication methodology of topos theory with reference to the quantum world. In particular, we show that the topos-theoretic representation scheme of quantum event algebras by means of Boolean localization functors incorporates an object of truth values, which constitutes the appropriate tool for the definition of quantum truth-value assignments to propositions describing the behavior of quantum systems. Effectively, this scheme induces a revised realist account of truth in the quantum domain of discourse. We also include an appendix, where we compare our topos-theoretic representation scheme of quantum event algebras with other categorial and topos-theoretic approaches.
Springer
2013-08-10
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
cc_by
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11401/1/A_Categorial_Semantic_Representation_of_Quantum_Event_Structures.pdf
Zafiris, Elias and Karakostas, Vassilios (2013) A Categorial Semantic Representation of Quantum Event Structures. Foundations of Physics, 43 (9). pp. 1090-1123. ISSN 1572-9516
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10701-013-9733-5
10.1007/s10701-013-9733-5
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11542
2015-07-04T13:33:44Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11542/
On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, quantum algorithms which utilise only the operations belonging to a certain restricted set are efficiently simulable classically. Since some of the operations in this set generate entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is insufficient to enable quantum computers to outperform classical computers. I argue in this paper that this conclusion is misleading. First, the statement of the theorem (that the particular set of quantum operations in question can be simulated using a classical computer) is, on reflection, already evident when we consider Bell's and related inequalities in the context of a discussion of computational machines. This, in turn, helps us to understand that the appropriate conclusion to draw from the Gottesman-Knill theorem is not that entanglement is insufficient to enable a quantum performance advantage, but rather that if we limit ourselves to the operations referred to in the Gottesman-Knill theorem, we will not have used the resources provided by an entangled quantum system to their full potential.
2014-04-05
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11542/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem. [Preprint]
http://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/axv016
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11588
2015-07-22T15:15:07Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11588/
How-Possibly Explanations in (Quantum) Computer Science
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Quantum
Explanation
A primary goal of quantum computer science is to find an explanation for the fact that quantum computers are more powerful than classical computers. In this paper I argue that to answer this question is to compare algorithmic processes of various kinds, and in so doing to describe the possibility spaces associated with these processes. By doing this we explain how it is possible for one process to outperform its rival. Further, in this and similar examples little is gained in subsequently asking a how-actually question. Once one has explained how-possibly there is little left to do.
2014
Conference or Workshop Item
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11588/1/how_possibly.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) How-Possibly Explanations in (Quantum) Computer Science. In: UNSPECIFIED.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/683243
10.1086/683243
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11617
2016-02-25T04:00:27Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:636C6173736963616C2D70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11617/
Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Causation
Classical Physics
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that our judgements regarding the locally causal models which are compatible with a given quantum no-go theorem implicitly depend, in part, on the context of inquiry. It follows from this that certain no-go theorems, which are particularly striking in the traditional foundational context, have no force when the context switches to a discussion of the physical systems we are capable of building with the aim of classically reproducing quantum statistics. I close with a general discussion of the possible implications of this for our understanding of the limits of classical description, and for our understanding of the fundamental aim of physical investigation.
2015
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11617/1/nogothms.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2015) Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:11924
2016-02-25T04:00:27Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:636C6173736963616C2D70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11924/
Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Causation
Classical Physics
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that our judgements regarding the locally causal models which are compatible with a given quantum no-go theorem implicitly depend, in part, on the context of inquiry. It follows from this that certain no-go theorems, which are particularly striking in the traditional foundational context, have no force when the context switches to a discussion of the physical systems we are capable of building with the aim of classically reproducing quantum statistics. I close with a general discussion of the possible implications of this for our understanding of the limits of classical description, and for our understanding of the fundamental aim of physical investigation.
2016
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/11924/1/nogothms.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2016) Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12230
2016-06-27T13:20:54Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:6669656C64732D616E642D7061727469636C6573
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12230/
Violation of the Born Rule: Implications for Macroscopic Fields
Kastner, Ruth
Quantum
Fields and Particles
Quantum Mechanics
It is shown that violation of the Born Rule leads to a breakdown of the correspondence between the quantum electromagnetic field and its classical counterpart. Specifically, the relationship of the quantum coherent state to the classical electromagnetic field turns out to imply that if the Born Rule were violated, this could result in apparent deviations from the energy conservation law applying to the field and its sources (Poynting's Theorem). The result, which is fully general and independent of interpretations of quantum theory, suggests that the Born Rule is just as fundamental a law of Nature as are the field conservation laws.
2016-06-25
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12230/1/Born%20Rule%20Violation%20and%20Maxwell%20Eqs.pdf
Kastner, Ruth (2016) Violation of the Born Rule: Implications for Macroscopic Fields. International Journal of Quantum Foundations, 2 (3). pp. 121-126.
http://www.ijqf.org/archives/3580
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12302
2016-07-25T16:59:59Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373
74797065733D636F6E666572656E63655F6974656D
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12302/
Quantum information or quantum coding?
Lombardi, Olimpia
López, Cristian
Classical
Quantum
Physics
In this work we will deal only with the concept of information in the communicational context, in which information is primarily something that has to be transmitted for communication purposes. The aim of the paper is to consider some arguments traditionally put forward to support the idea that quantum information is qualitatively different than classical information. On the basis of the analysis of those arguments, we will conclude that there are no reasons to admit the existence of quantum information as qualitatively different from classical information: there is only one kind of information, physically neutral, which can be encoded by means of classical or of quantum states.
2016
Conference or Workshop Item
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12302/1/Quantum%20information%20or%20quantum%20coding.pdf
Lombardi, Olimpia and López, Cristian (2016) Quantum information or quantum coding? In: UNSPECIFIED.
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12487
2016-10-19T22:53:18Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D67656E:6F7065726174696F6E616C69736D2D696E7374756D656E74616C69736D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12487/
It's a Matter of Principle.
Scientific Explanation in Information-Theoretic Reconstructions of Quantum Theory
Felline, Laura
Computation/Information
Quantum
Explanation
Operationalism/Instrumentalism
Quantum Mechanics
The aim of this paper is to explore the ways in which Axiomatic Reconstructions of Quantum Theory in terms of Information-Theoretic principles (ARQITs) can contribute to explaining and understanding quantum phenomena, as well as to study their explanatory limitations. This is achieved in part by offering an account of the kind of explanation that axiomatic reconstructions of quantum theory provide, and re-evaluating the epistemic status of the program in light of this explanation. As illustrative cases studies, I take Clifton's, Bub's and Halvorson's characterization theorem and Popescu's and Rohrlich's toy models, and their explanatory contribution with respect to quantum non-locality. On the one hand, I argue that ARQITs can aspire to provide genuine explanations of (some aspects of) quantum non-locality. On the other hand, I argue that such explanations cannot rule out a mechanical quantum theory.
2016
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12487/1/matter%20of%20principle%20archive.pdf
Felline, Laura (2016) It's a Matter of Principle. Scientific Explanation in Information-Theoretic Reconstructions of Quantum Theory. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12811
2017-02-10T17:02:04Z
7375626A656374733D67656E:536369656E74696669635F4D65746170687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12811/
Shakespeare's Free Lunch: A Critique of the D-CTC Solution to the Knowledge Paradox
Dunlap, Lucas
Scientific Metaphysics
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
In this paper I argue that the consistency condition from the Deutsch's influential model for closed timelike curves (CTCs) differs significantly from the classical consistency condition found in Lewis (1976) and Novikov (2002), as well as from the consistency condition found in the P-CTC model, the major rival to Deutsch's approach. Both the CCC and the P-CTC consistency condition are formulable in the context of a single history of the world. Deutsch's consistency condition relies on the existence of a structure of parallel worlds. I argue that Deutsch's commitment to realism about parallel worlds puts his solutions to the information paradox in jeopardy. I argue that, because of Deutsch's commitment to this metaphysical picture, he is committed to the existence of physical situations that are in every way indistinguishable from the paradoxes he attempts to rule out by adopting the model in the first place. Deutsch's proposed solution to the Knowledge Paradox, in particular his commitment to the actuality of the many worlds of the Everett interpretation (on which he relies to solve the paradoxes), guarantees the existence of worlds that are indistinguishable from worlds in which the genuine Knowledge Paradox arises.
2016
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12811/1/SFL.pdf
Dunlap, Lucas (2016) Shakespeare's Free Lunch: A Critique of the D-CTC Solution to the Knowledge Paradox. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12818
2017-02-12T18:41:06Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
7375626A656374733D67656E:746563686E6F6C6F6779
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12818/
Universality, Invariance, and the Foundations of Computational Complexity in the light of the Quantum Computer
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Quantum
Computer Science
Structure of Theories
Technology
2017-02-11
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12818/1/tech_complex.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2017) Universality, Invariance, and the Foundations of Computational Complexity in the light of the Quantum Computer. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12869
2017-03-03T17:57:35Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12869/
On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to the Gottesman-Knill theorem, quantum algorithms which utilise only the operations belonging to a certain restricted set are efficiently simulable classically. Since some of the operations in this set generate entangled states, it is commonly concluded that entanglement is insufficient to enable quantum computers to outperform classical computers. I argue in this paper that this conclusion is misleading. First, the statement of the theorem (that the particular set of quantum operations in question can be simulated using a classical computer) is, on reflection, already evident when we consider Bell's and related inequalities in the context of a discussion of computational machines. This, in turn, helps us to understand that the appropriate conclusion to draw from the Gottesman-Knill theorem is not that entanglement is insufficient to enable a quantum performance advantage, but rather that if we limit ourselves to the operations referred to in the Gottesman-Knill theorem, we will not have used the resources provided by an entangled quantum system to their full potential.
2014-04-05
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12869/1/sufficiency_of_entanglement.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2014) On the Significance of the Gottesman-Knill Theorem. [Preprint]
http://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/axv016
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:12898
2017-03-12T16:53:03Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:636C6173736963616C2D70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12898/
Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Causation
Classical Physics
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
I argue that our judgements regarding the locally causal models which are compatible with a given quantum no-go theorem implicitly depend, in part, on the context of inquiry. It follows from this that certain no-go theorems, which are particularly striking in the traditional foundational context, have no force when the context switches to a discussion of the physical systems we are capable of building with the aim of classically reproducing quantum statistics. I close with a general discussion of the possible implications of this for our understanding of the limits of classical description, and for our understanding of the fundamental aim of physical investigation.
2016
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
application/pdf
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/12898/1/nogothms.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2016) Reconsidering No-Go Theorems from a Practical Perspective. [Preprint]
https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/axw038
10.1093/bjps/axw038
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:13098
2017-06-05T13:47:13Z
7375626A656374733D67656E:636175736174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13098/
Discovering Quantum Causal Models (final)
Shrapnel, Sally
Causation
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Costa and Shrapnel [2016] have recently proposed an interventionist theory of quantum causation. The formalism generalises the classical methods of Pearl [2000] and allows for the discovery of quantum causal structure via localised interventions. Classical causal structure is presented as a special case of this more general framework. I introduce the account and consider whether this formalism provides a causal explanation for the Bell correlations.
2017-06-04
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13098/1/DiscoveringQuantumCausalModels%20-%20BJPS%20accepted%20version.pdf
Shrapnel, Sally (2017) Discovering Quantum Causal Models (final). [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:13336
2017-08-20T16:35:36Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6669656C642D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7265616C69736D2D616E74692D7265616C69736D
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13336/
Contextual Semantics in Quantum Mechanics from a Categorical Point of View
Karakostas, Vassilios
Zafiris, Elias
Quantum
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Realism/Anti-realism
Structure of Theories
The category-theoretic representation of quantum event structures provides a canonical setting for confronting the fundamental problem of truth valuation in quantum mechanics as exemplified, in particular, by Kochen–Specker’s theorem. In the present study, this is realized on the basis of the existence of a categorical adjunction between the category of sheaves of variable local Boolean frames, constituting a topos, and the category of quantum event algebras. We show explicitly that the latter category is equipped with an object of truth values, or classifying object, which constitutes the appropriate tool for assigning truth values to propositions describing the behavior of quantum systems. Effectively, this category-theoretic representation scheme circumvents consistently the semantic ambiguity with respect to truth valuation that is inherent in conventional quantum mechanics by inducing an objective contextual account of truth in the quantum domain of discourse. The philosophical implications of the resulting account are analyzed. We argue that it subscribes neither to a pragmatic instrumental nor to a relative notion of truth. Such an account essentially denies that there can be a universal context of reference or an Archimedean standpoint from which to evaluate logically the totality of facts of nature.
Springer
2017
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
cc_public_domain
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13336/1/Contextual%20Semantics%20in%20Quantum%20Mechanics%20from%20a%20Categorical%20Point%20of%20View.pdf
Karakostas, Vassilios and Zafiris, Elias (2017) Contextual Semantics in Quantum Mechanics from a Categorical Point of View. Synthese, 194 (3). pp. 847-886. ISSN 0039-7857
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-015-0970-3
DOI 10.1007/s11229-015-0970-3
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:13373
2017-08-29T14:34:10Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13373/
Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Structure of Theories
The principle of 'information causality' can be used to derive an upper bound---known as the 'Tsirelson bound'---on the strength of quantum mechanical correlations, and has been conjectured to be a foundational principle of nature. In this paper, however, I argue that the principle has not to date been sufficiently motivated to play this role; the motivations that have so far been given are either unsatisfactorily vague or else amount to little more than an appeal to intuition. I then consider how one might begin to successfully motivate the principle. I argue that a compelling way of so doing is to understand it as a generalisation of Einstein's principle of the mutually independent existence---the 'being-thus'---of spatially distant things, (re-)interpreted as a special methodological principle. More specifically: I describe an argument, due to Demopoulos, to the effect that the quantum-mechanical no-signalling condition can be viewed as a generalisation, appropriate to an irreducibly statistical theory such as quantum mechanics, of the Einsteinian principle. And I then argue that a compelling way to motivate information causality is to in turn consider it as a further generalisation of the Einsteinian principle that is appropriate to a theory of communication. I nevertheless describe important obstacles that must yet be overcome if the project of establishing information causality as a foundational principle of nature is to succeed.
2017-08-29
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13373/1/tbound.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2017) Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:13421
2017-09-13T16:36:40Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13421/
Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Structure of Theories
The principle of `information causality' can be used to derive an upper bound---known as the `Tsirelson bound'---on the strength of quantum mechanical correlations, and has been conjectured to be a foundational principle of nature. To date, however, it has not been sufficiently motivated to play such a foundational role. The motivations that have so far been given are, as I argue, either unsatisfactorily vague or appeal to little if anything more than intuition. Thus in this paper I consider whether some way might be found to successfully motivate the principle. And I propose that a compelling way of so doing is to understand it as a methodological generalisation of Einstein's principle of the mutually independent existence---the `being-thus'---of spatially distant things. In particular I first describe an argument, due to Demopoulos, to the effect that the so-called `no-signalling' condition can be viewed as a generalisation of Einstein's principle that is appropriate for an irreducibly statistical theory such as quantum mechanics. I then argue that a compelling way to motivate information causality is to in turn consider it as a further generalisation of the Einsteinian principle that is appropriate for a theory of communication. I describe, however, some important conceptual obstacles that must yet be overcome if the project of establishing information causality as a foundational principle of nature is to succeed.
2017-09-12
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/13421/1/tbound.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2017) Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:14027
2017-10-15T18:16:29Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14027/
Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Structure of Theories
The principle of `information causality' can be used to derive an upper bound---known as the `Tsirelson bound'---on the strength of quantum mechanical correlations, and has been conjectured to be a foundational principle of nature. To date, however, it has not been sufficiently motivated to play such a foundational role. The motivations that have so far been given are, as I argue, either unsatisfactorily vague or appeal to little if anything more than intuition. Thus in this paper I consider whether some way might be found to successfully motivate the principle. And I propose that a compelling way of so doing is to understand it as a generalisation of Einstein's principle of the mutually independent existence---the `being-thus'---of spatially distant things. In particular I first describe an argument, due to Demopoulos, to the effect that the so-called `no-signalling' condition can be viewed as a generalisation of Einstein's principle that is appropriate for an irreducibly statistical theory such as quantum mechanics. I then argue that a compelling way to motivate information causality is to in turn consider it as a further generalisation of the Einsteinian principle that is appropriate for a theory of communication. I describe, however, some important conceptual obstacles that must yet be overcome if the project of establishing information causality as a foundational principle of nature is to succeed.
2017-10-15
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14027/1/tbound.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2017) Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:14342
2018-02-01T22:29:59Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14342/
The Logos Categorical Approach to QM: II. Quantum Superpositions.
de Ronde, Christian
Massri, Cesar
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
In this paper we attempt to consider quantum superpositions from the perspective of the logos categorical approach presented in [26]. We will argue that our approach allows us not only to better visualize the structural features of quantum superpositions providing an anschaulich content to all terms, but also to restore —through the intensive valuation of graphs and the notion of immanent power— an objective representation of what QM is really talking about. In particular, we will discuss how superpositions relate to some of the main features of the theory of quanta, namely, contextuality, paraconsistency, probability and measurement.
2018-02-01
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14342/1/Logos%20CQM%20II%20-%20de%20Ronde%20%26%20Massri%202018.pdf
de Ronde, Christian and Massri, Cesar (2018) The Logos Categorical Approach to QM: II. Quantum Superpositions. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:14777
2018-06-14T01:28:21Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D67656E:6578706C616E6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14777/
Quantum theory is not only about information
Felline, Laura
Quantum
Explanation
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
In his recent book Bananaworld. Quantum mechanics for primates, Jeff Bub revives and provides a mature version of his influential information-theoretic interpretation of Quantum Theory (QT). In this paper, I test Bub’s conjecture that QT should be interpreted as a theory about information, by examining whether his information-theoretic interpretation has the resources to explain (or explain away) quantum conundrums. The discussion of Bub’s theses will also serve to investigate, more in general, whether other approaches succeed in defending the claim that QT is about quantum information. First of all, I argue that Bub’s interpretation of QT as a principle theory fails to fully explain quantum non-locality. Secondly, I argue that a constructive interpretation, where the quantum state is interpreted ontically as information, also fails at providing a full explanation of quantum correlations. Finally, while epistemic interpretations might succeed in this respect, I argue that such a success comes at the price of rejecting some in between the most basic scientific standards of physical theories.
2018
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14777/1/QT%20not%20only%20about%20information%20v3.pdf
Felline, Laura (2018) Quantum theory is not only about information. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:14894
2018-07-23T17:40:51Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D6170706C69636162696C697479
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D6570697374656D6F6C6F6779
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D6578706C616E6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D666F756E646174696F6E73
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D6D6574686F646F6C6F6779
7375626A656374733D73706563:6D617468656D6174696373:504D6F6E746F6C6F6779
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F676E69746976652D736369656E6365
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E63652D6172746966696369616C2D696E74656C6C6967656E6365
7375626A656374733D73706563:65636F6E6F6D696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70726F626162696C6974792D73746174697374696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:736F63696F6C6F6779
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14894/
Postulating the theory of experience and chance
as a theory of co~events (co~beings)
Vorobyev, Oleg Yu
Applicability
Epistemology
Explanation
Foundations
Methodology
Ontology
Cognitive Science
Computation/Information
Quantum
Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence
Economics
Probability/Statistics
Sociology
The aim of the paper is the axiomatic justification of the theory of experience and chance,
one of the dual halves of which is the Kolmogorov probability theory. The author’s main idea was the
natural inclusion of Kolmogorov’s axiomatics of probability theory in a number of general concepts of
the theory of experience and chance. The analogy between the measure of a set and the probability of an
event has become clear for a long time. This analogy also allows further evolution: the measure of a set is
completely analogous to the believability of an event. In order to postulate the theory of experience and
chance on the basis of this analogy, you just need to add to the Kolmogorov probability theory its dual
reflection — the believability theory, so that the theory of experience and chance could be postulated as
the certainty (believability-probability) theory on the Cartesian product of the probability and believability
spaces, and the central concept of the theory is the new notion of co~event as a measurable binary relation
on the Cartesian product of sets of elementary incomes and elementary outcomes. Attempts to build the
foundations of the theory of experience and chance from this general point of view are unknown to me,
and the whole range of ideas presented here has not yet acquired popularity even in a narrow circle of
specialists; in addition, there was still no complete system of the postulates of the theory of experience
and chance free from unnecessary complications. Postulating the theory of experience and chance can be
carried out in different ways, both in the choice of axioms and in the choice of basic concepts and relations.
If one tries to achieve the possible simplicity of both the system of axioms and the theory constructed
from it, then it is hardly possible to suggest anything other than axiomatization of concepts co~event and
its certainty (believability-probability). The main result of this work is the axiom of co~event, intended
for the sake of constructing a theory formed by dual theories of believabilities and probabilities, each of
which itself is postulated by its own Kolmogorov system of axioms. Of course, other systems of postulating
the theory of experience and chance can be imagined, however, in this work, a preference is given to
a system of postulates that is able to describe in the most simple manner the results of what I call an
experienced-random experiment.
2016-09-30
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/14894/1/XV-famems2016-ISBN-978-5-9903358-6-8-VorobyevOYu-25-43.pdf
Vorobyev, Oleg Yu (2016) Postulating the theory of experience and chance as a theory of co~events (co~beings). [Preprint]
https://www.academia.edu/34417203/Proceedings_of_the_XV_FAMEMS-2016_Conference_on_Financial_and_Actuarial_Math_and_Eventology_of_Multivariate_Statistics_and_the_EEC-H_s6P_Workshop_on_Hilberts_Sixth_Problem_Oleg_Vorobyev_ed._-_Krasnoyarsk_SFU_2016._-_261p
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:15268
2018-11-08T14:03:54Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15268/
When Greenberger, Horne and Zeilinger meet Wigner's Friend
Leegwater, Gijs
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
A general argument is presented against relativistic, unitary, single-outcome quantum mechanics. This is achieved by combining the Wigner's Friend thought experiment with measurements on a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state, and describing the evolution of the quantum state in various inertial frames. Assuming unitary quantum mechanics and single outcomes, the result is that the Born rule must be violated in some inertial frame: in that frame, outcomes are obtained for which no corresponding term exists in the pre-measurement wavefunction.
2018-11-06
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15268/1/When%20WF%20meets%20GHZ%20preprint.pdf
Leegwater, Gijs (2018) When Greenberger, Horne and Zeilinger meet Wigner's Friend. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:15348
2018-11-20T01:38:56Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
7375626A656374733D67656E:7468656F72792D6F62736572766174696F6E
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15348/
Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Structure of Theories
Theory/Observation
The principle of `information causality' can be used to derive an upper bound---known as the `Tsirelson bound'---on the strength of quantum mechanical correlations, and has been conjectured to be a foundational principle of nature. To date, however, it has not been sufficiently motivated to play such a foundational role. The motivations that have so far been given are, as I argue, either unsatisfactorily vague or appeal to little if anything more than intuition. Thus in this paper I consider whether some way might be found to successfully motivate the principle. And I propose that a compelling way of so doing is to understand it as a generalisation of Einstein's principle of the mutually independent existence---the `being-thus'---of spatially distant things. In particular I first describe an argument, due to Demopoulos, to the effect that the so-called `no-signalling' condition can be viewed as a generalisation of Einstein's principle that is appropriate for an irreducibly statistical theory such as quantum mechanics. I then argue that a compelling way to motivate information causality is to in turn consider it as a further generalisation of the Einsteinian principle that is appropriate for a theory of communication. I describe, however, some important conceptual obstacles that must yet be overcome if the project of establishing information causality as a foundational principle of nature is to succeed.
2018-11-18
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15348/1/tbound.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2018) Information Causality, the Tsirelson Bound, and the 'Being-Thus' of Things. [Preprint]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2018.05.001
10.1016/j.shpsb.2018.05.001
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:15349
2018-11-20T01:39:55Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
7375626A656374733D67656E:7374727563747572652D6F662D7468656F72696573
7375626A656374733D67656E:746563686E6F6C6F6779
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15349/
Universality, Invariance, and the Foundations of Computational Complexity in the light of the Quantum Computer
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Quantum
Computer Science
Structure of Theories
Technology
2018-11-18
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15349/1/tech_complex.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2018) Universality, Invariance, and the Foundations of Computational Complexity in the light of the Quantum Computer. [Preprint]
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93779-3_11
10.1007/978-3-319-93779-3_11
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:15956
2019-05-01T13:34:02Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15956/
Olimpia Lombardi, Sebastian Fortin, Federico Holik and Cristian López, eds. 2017. What is Quantum Information?
Stacey, Blake
Computation/Information
Quantum
Review of Olimpia Lombardi, Sebastian Fortin, Federico Holik and Cristian López, eds. 2017. What is Quantum Information?
Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco
2019-01
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
cc_by_nc_nd_4
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/15956/1/def_20465_Stacey_Theoria34-1.pdf
Stacey, Blake (2019) Olimpia Lombardi, Sebastian Fortin, Federico Holik and Cristian López, eds. 2017. What is Quantum Information? THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 34 (1). pp. 149-151. ISSN 2171-679X
http://www.ehu.eus/ojs/index.php/THEORIA/article/view/20465
10.1387/theoria.20465
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:16112
2019-06-20T15:56:16Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/
A conceptual frame for giving physical content to the uncertainty principle and the quantum state
Canturk, Bilal
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
In the present paper, we have defined a physical event as an invariant replacement of a structural form, possessing a finite space-time region which emerges as a unification of the uncertainty principle and the quantum state. To reach this concept, we have first unearthed and then criticized two related conjectures relying on the foundation of the current physics which are that: (1) there is an operational-based prior space-time frame in which physical events evolve continuously; and (2) the events are understood based on a pure two-valued logic of rational-reason. We have concluded that the presented conceptual frame supports (i) a time operator having a domain ($0,2\pi$). In addition, it implies that: (ii) the dynamical variables of a physical event are the functional faculties as the content of the structural form of the event; and (iii) every physical event needs a finite time for realization.
2019-05-20
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/10/paper.pdf
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/8/paper.tex
image
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/2/flowapply.jpg
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/9/references.bib
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16112/3/arxiv.sty
Canturk, Bilal (2019) A conceptual frame for giving physical content to the uncertainty principle and the quantum state. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:16238
2019-07-19T01:43:54Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16238/
The Measurement Problem and two Dogmas about Quantum Mechanics
Felline, Laura
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
According to a nowadays widely discussed analysis by Itamar Pitowsky, the theoretical problems of QT are originated from two ‘dogmas’: the first forbidding the use of the notion of measurement in the fundamental axioms of the theory; the second imposing an interpretation of the quantum state as representing a system’s objectively possessed properties and evolution. In this paper I argue that, contrarily to Pitowsky analysis, depriving the quantum state of its ontological commitment is not sufficient to solve the conceptual issues that affect the foundations of QT.
In order to test Pitowsky’s analysis I make use of an argument elaborated by Amit Hagar and Meir Hemmo, showing how some probabilistic interpretations of QT fail at dictating coherent predictions in Wigner’s Friend situations. More specifically, I evaluate three different probabilistic approaches: qBism, as a representative of the epistemic subjective interpretation of the quantum state; Jeff Bub’s information-theoretic interpretation of QT, as an example of the ontic approach to the quantum state; Itamar Pitowsky’s probabilistic interpretation, as an epistemic but objective interpretation. I argue that qBism succeeds in providing a formal solution to the problem that does not lead to a self-contradictory picture, although the resulting interpretation leads to an interpretation where the real subject matter of QT clashes alarmingly with scientific practice. The other two approaches, instead, strictly fail in Wigner’s Friend scenarios, showing in such a way that they don’t provide a genuine solution to the problem.
2019
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16238/1/LauraFelline%20-%20pitowsky%20volume%20V4.pdf
Felline, Laura (2019) The Measurement Problem and two Dogmas about Quantum Mechanics. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:16432
2019-09-16T13:50:09Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16432/
Is the Reality Criterion Analytic?
Glick, David
Boge, Florian J.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
Tim Maudlin has claimed that EPR’s Reality Criterion is analytically true. We argue that it is not. Moreover, one may be a subjectivist about quantum probabilities without giving up on objective physical reality. Thus, would-be detractors must reject QBism and other epistemic approaches to quantum theory on other grounds.
2019-09-16
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16432/1/Is_the_Reality_Criterion_Analytic%28final%29.pdf
Glick, David and Boge, Florian J. (2019) Is the Reality Criterion Analytic? [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:16676
2019-12-04T04:25:27Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D7075626C69736865645F61727469636C65
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16676/
A New Problem for Quantum Mechanics
Meehan, Alexander
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
In this article I raise a new problem for quantum mechanics, which I call the control problem. Like the measurement problem, the control problem places a fundamental constraint on quantum theories. The characteristic feature of the problem is its focus on state preparation. In particular, whereas the measurement problem turns on a premise about the completeness of the quantum state ('no hidden variables'), the control problem turns on a premise about our ability to prepare or control quantum states. After raising the problem, I discuss some applications. I suggest that it provides a useful new lens through which to view existing theories or interpretations, in part because it draws attention to aspects of those theories that the measurement problem does not (such as the role of conditional and relative states). I suggest that it also helps clarify the physical significance of the well-known no-go result -- the no-cloning theorem -- on which it is based.
Oxford University Press
2019-12-03
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/16676/1/meehan-a-new-problem-for-quantum-mechanics.pdf
Meehan, Alexander (2019) A New Problem for Quantum Mechanics. The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.
https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/axz053
axz053
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:17274
2020-06-04T01:25:19Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17274/
A conceptual frame for giving physical content to the uncertainty principle and the quantum state
Canturk, Bilal
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
We have defined a physical event as an invariant replaced structural form, possessing a finite space-time region that emerges as a unification of the uncertainty principle and the quantum state. To achieve this concept, we have first unearthed and then criticized two related conjectures relying on the foundation of the current physics which are that: (1) there is an operational-based prior space-time frame in which physical events evolve continuously; and (2) the events are understood based on a pure two-valued logic of rational-reason. We have concluded that the presented conceptual frame supports (i) a time operator having a domain $(0,2\pi)$. In addition, it implies that: (ii) the dynamical variables of a physical event are the functional faculties as the content of the structural form of the event; and (iii) every physical event needs a finite time for realization.
2020-05-20
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17274/10/manuscript.pdf
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17274/11/main.tex
image
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17274/12/flowapply.JPG
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/17274/13/referencelist.bib
Canturk, Bilal (2020) A conceptual frame for giving physical content to the uncertainty principle and the quantum state. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:18081
2020-09-11T14:26:39Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18081/
What Have Google’s Random Quantum Circuit Simulation
Experiments Demonstrated about Quantum Supremacy?
Horner, Jack K.
Symons, John
Classical
Quantum
Quantum computing is of high interest because it promises to perform at least some kinds of
computations much faster than classical computers. Arute et al. 2019 (informally, “the Google
Quantum Team”) report the results of experiments that purport to demonstrate “quantum
supremacy” – the claim that the performance of some quantum computers is better than that of
classical computers on some problems. Do these results close the debate over quantum
supremacy? We argue that they do not. In the following, we provide an overview of the Google
Quantum Team’s experiments, then identify some open questions in the quest to demonstrate
quantum supremacy.
2020-09-11
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18081/1/FMTD_JKH20200909_QUANTUM_SUPREMACY.pdf
Horner, Jack K. and Symons, John (2020) What Have Google’s Random Quantum Circuit Simulation Experiments Demonstrated about Quantum Supremacy? [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:18466
2020-12-03T23:57:59Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18466/
Essay Review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A Serious Comic on Entanglement
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Doyle, Emerson P.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
This is an extended essay review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A serious comic on entanglement. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press (2018), ISBN: 9780691176956, 272 pp., 7x10 in., 254 b/w illus., £18.99 / $22.95 (paperback). We review the philosophical aspects of the book, provide suggestions for instructors on how to use the book in a class setting, and evaluate the authors' artistic choices in the context of comics theory.
2020
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18466/1/totally_random_review.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. and Doyle, Emerson P. (2020) Essay Review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A Serious Comic on Entanglement. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:18564
2021-01-03T14:31:56Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6669656C642D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18564/
The Relativistic Transactional Interpretation and
The Quantum Direct-Action Theory
Kastner, Ruth
Quantum
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
This paper presents key aspects of the quantum relativistic direct-action theory that underlies the Relativistic Transactional Interpretation. It notes some crucial ways in which traditional interpretations of the direct-action theory have impeded progress in developing its quantum counterpart. Specifically, (1) the so-called ‘light tight box’ condition is re-examined and it is shown that the quantum version of this condition is much less restrictive than has long been assumed; and (2) the notion of a ‘real photon’ is disambiguated and revised to take into account that real (on-shell) photons are indeed both emitted and absorbed and therefore have finite lifetimes. Also discussed is the manner in which real, physical non-unitarity naturally arises in the quantum direct-action theory of fields, such that the measurement transition can be clearly defined from within the theory, without reference to external observers and without any need to modify quantum theory itself. It is shown that field quantization arises from the non-unitary interaction.
2021-01-02
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18564/1/QDAT%20Arxiv.pdf
Kastner, Ruth (2021) The Relativistic Transactional Interpretation and The Quantum Direct-Action Theory. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:18759
2021-02-26T03:18:56Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18759/
Essay Review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A Serious Comic on Entanglement
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Doyle, Emerson P.
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
This is an extended essay review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A serious comic on entanglement. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press (2018), ISBN: 9780691176956, 272 pp., 7x10 in., 254 b/w illus., £18.99 / $22.95 (paperback). We review the philosophical aspects of the book, provide suggestions for instructors on how to use the book in a class setting, and evaluate the authors' artistic choices in the context of comics theory.
2020
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18759/1/totally_random_review.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. and Doyle, Emerson P. (2020) Essay Review of Tanya and Jeffrey Bub's Totally Random: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics: A Serious Comic on Entanglement. [Preprint]
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-021-00423-2
10.1007/s10701-021-00423-2
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:18822
2021-03-16T22:56:21Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:436C6173736963616C
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:636C6173736963616C2D70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18822/
The Philosophy of Quantum Computing
Cuffaro, Michael E.
Classical
Classical Physics
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
From the philosopher's perspective, the interest in quantum computation stems primarily from the way that it combines fundamental concepts from two distinct sciences: physics (especially quantum mechanics) and computer science, each long a subject of philosophical speculation and analysis in its own right. Quantum computing combines both of these more traditional areas of inquiry into one wholly new (if not quite independent) science. There are philosophical questions that arise from this merger, and philosophical lessons to be learned. Over the course of this chapter we discuss what I take to be some of the most important.
2021-03-16
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/18822/1/qcSpringer.pdf
Cuffaro, Michael E. (2021) The Philosophy of Quantum Computing. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:19747
2021-10-26T04:11:33Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70726F626162696C6974792D73746174697374696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/19747/
Quantum Conditional Probabilities and New Measures of Quantum Information
Barandes, Jacob A.
Kagan, David
Computation/Information
Quantum
Physics
Probability/Statistics
Quantum Mechanics
We use a novel form of quantum conditional probability to define new measures of quantum information in a dynamical context. We explore relationships between our new quantities and standard measures of quantum information such as von Neumann entropy. These quantities allow us to find new proofs of some standard results in quantum information theory, such as the concavity of von Neumann entropy and Holevo's theorem. The existence of an underlying probability distribution helps to shed some light on the conceptual underpinnings of these results.
2021-09-15
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/19747/1/Barandes%2C%20Kagan%3D%20Quantum%20Conditional%20Probabilities%20and%20New%20Measures%20of%20Quantum%20Information.pdf
Barandes, Jacob A. and Kagan, David (2021) Quantum Conditional Probabilities and New Measures of Quantum Information. [Preprint]
https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.07447
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:19825
2021-11-10T04:58:42Z
7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E:636F6D7075746174696F6E2D696E666F726D6174696F6E2D7175616E74756D
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/19825/
On the (Im)possibility of Scalable Quantum Computing
Knight, Andrew
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics
The potential for scalable quantum computing depends on the viability of fault tolerance and quantum error correction, by which the entropy of environmental noise is removed during a quantum computation to maintain the physical reversibility of the computer’s logical qubits. However, the theory underlying quantum error correction applies a linguistic double standard to the words “noise” and “measurement” by treating environmental interactions during a quantum computation as inherently reversible, and environmental interactions at the end of a quantum computation as irreversible measurements. Specifically, quantum error correction theory models noise as interactions that are uncorrelated or that result in correlations that decay in space and/or time, thus embedding no permanent information to the environment. I challenge this assumption both on logical grounds and by discussing a hypothetical quantum computer based on “position qubits.” The technological difficulties of producing a useful scalable position-qubit quantum computer parallel the overwhelming difficulties in performing a double-slit interference experiment on an object comprising a million to a billion fermions.
2021-11-07
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/19825/1/QC.pdf
Knight, Andrew (2021) On the (Im)possibility of Scalable Quantum Computing. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:21456
2022-11-22T15:24:00Z
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https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/21456/
Non-Kolmogorovian Probabilities and Quantum Technologies
Holik, Federico
Computation/Information
Quantum
Computer Science
Engineering
Physics
Probability/Statistics
Quantum Mechanics
In this work, we focus on the philosophical aspects and technical challenges that underlie the axiomatization of the non-Kolmogorovian probability framework, in connection with the problem of quantum contextuality. This fundamental feature of quantum theory has received a lot of attention
recently, given that it might be connected to the speed-up of quantum computers—a phenomenon that is not fully understood. Although this problem has been extensively studied in the physics community, there are still many philosophical questions that should be properly formulated. We analyzed different problems from a conceptual standpoint using the non-Kolmogorovian probability approach as a technical tool.
MDPI
2022-11
Published Article or Volume
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/21456/1/Non-Kolmogorovian%20probabilities%20and%20quantum%20technologies.pdf
Holik, Federico (2022) Non-Kolmogorovian Probabilities and Quantum Technologies. Entropy.
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/24/11/1666
10.3390/e24111666
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22322
2023-07-19T14:43:48Z
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7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
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7375626A656374733D67656E:7468656F72792D6F62736572766174696F6E
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22322/
Eliminating the ‘impossible’: Recent progress on local measurement theory for quantum field theory
Papageorgiou, Maria
Fraser, Doreen
Quantum
Determinism/Indeterminism
Fields and Particles
Models and Idealization
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
Theory/Observation
Arguments by Sorkin and Borsten, Jubb, and Kells establish that a natural extension of quantum measurement theory from non-relativistic quantum mechanics to relativistic quantum theory leads to the unacceptable consequence that expectation values in one region depend on which non-selective measurement is performed in a spacelike separated region. Sorkin labels such scenarios `impossible measurements'. We explicitly present these arguments as a no-go result with the logical form of a reductio argument and investigate the consequences for measurement in quantum field theory (QFT). Sorkin-type impossible measurement scenarios clearly illustrate the moral that Microcausality is not by itself sufficient to rule out superluminal signalling in relativistic quantum theories that use L{\"u}ders' rule. We review three different approaches to formulating an account of measurement for QFT and analyze their responses to the `impossible measurements' problem. Two of the approaches are recent proposals for measurement theories for QFT: a measurement theory based on detector models proposed in Polo-G{\'o}mez, Garay, and Mart{\'i}n-Mart{\'i}nez and a measurement framework for algebraic QFT proposed in Fewster and Verch. Of particular interest for foundations of QFT is that they share common features that may hold general morals about how to represent measurement in QFT, in spite of being much different in spirit and in details such as the form taken by the state update rules. Careful attention to the dynamics is an important component of both strategies for responding to the `impossible measurements' problem. Both also abandon the traditional operational interpretation of a local algebra of observables $\mathcal{A}(O)$ as representing possible operations carried out in region $O$. Their respective state update rules cannot be literally interpreted as representing a physical change of state of the system upon measurement that occurs in any region of spacetime. The third response to the `impossible measurements' problem that we examine is the histories-based approach that is preferred by Sorkin. While there are open questions about how to address the `impossible measurements' problem using this approach, it is much different in spirit than the detector models approach and the FV framework yet also shares some common features. We hope that this paper lays the groundwork for productive dialogue among the many communities of physicists and philosophers who are working on theoretical, practical, and interpretative issues surrounding the treatment of local measurements in QFT.
2023-07-19
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22322/1/Impossible_measurements_philsci.pdf
Papageorgiou, Maria and Fraser, Doreen (2023) Eliminating the ‘impossible’: Recent progress on local measurement theory for quantum field theory. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22356
2023-07-31T14:50:00Z
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7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
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https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22356/
On Epistemically Useful Physical Computation
Schmitz, Timothy
Classical
Computation/Information
Quantum
Computer Science
Piccinini's Usability Constraint states that physical processes must have ``physically constructible manifestation[s]" to be included in epistemically useful models of physical computation. But to determine what physical processes can be implemented on physical systems (as parts of computations), we must already know what physical processes can be implemented on physical systems (as parts of processes for constructing computing systems). We need additional assumptions about what qualifies as a building process. Piccinini implicitly assumes a classical computational understanding of executable processes, but this is an assumption imposed on physical theories and may artificially limit our picture of epistemically useful physical computation.
2023-06
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22356/1/On%20Epistemically%20Useful%20Physical%20Computation.pdf
Schmitz, Timothy (2023) On Epistemically Useful Physical Computation. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22502
2023-09-06T16:46:35Z
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74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22502/
The Stochastic-Quantum Theorem
Barandes, Jacob A.
Quantum
Determinism/Indeterminism
Laws of Nature
Mathematics
Models and Idealization
Probability/Statistics
Quantum Mechanics
Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
This paper introduces several new classes of mathematical structures that have close connections with physics and with the theory of dynamical systems. The most general of these structures, called generalized stochastic systems, collectively encompass many important kinds of stochastic processes, including Markov chains and random dynamical systems. This paper then states and proves a new theorem that establishes a precise correspondence between any generalized stochastic system and a unitarily evolving quantum system. This theorem therefore leads to a new formulation of quantum theory, alongside the Hilbert-space, path-integral, and quasiprobability formulations. The theorem also provides a first-principles explanation for why quantum systems are based on the complex numbers, Hilbert spaces, linear-unitary time evolution, and the Born rule. In addition, the theorem suggests that by selecting a suitable Hilbert space, together with an appropriate choice of unitary evolution, one can simulate any generalized stochastic system on a quantum computer, thereby potentially opening up an extensive set of novel applications for quantum computing.
2023-09-03
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22502/1/Stochastic-Quantum_Theorem_v11_wide_2023_09_03.pdf
Barandes, Jacob A. (2023) The Stochastic-Quantum Theorem. [Preprint]
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22559
2023-09-20T11:35:28Z
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7375626A656374733D73706563:636F6D70757465722D736369656E6365
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7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D67656E:74686F756768742D6578706572696D656E7473
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22559/
Reframing the Event Horizon: The Harlow-Hayden Computational Approach to the Firewall Paradox
Weinstein, Galina
Quantum
Computer Science
Quantum Gravity
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
Thought Experiments
This study critically reevaluates the Harlow-Hayden (HH) solution to the black hole information paradox and its articulation in the firewall paradox. The exploration recognizes the HH solution as a revolutionary approach in black hole physics, steering away from traditional constraints to depict the event horizon as a computational rather than a physical barrier. The paper first maps the initial physical dilemma that instigated the HH journey, introducing Alice, an observer facing intricate computational challenges as she approaches the black hole. I then depict the evolution of the narrative, describing how Alice was facilitated with a quantum computer to surmount the computational challenges and further detailing the augmented complexities arising from the integration of the physical dynamics of the black hole. Yet, HH's research applies the AdS/CFT correspondence to explore the dynamic unitary transformation in solving the firewall paradox through decoding Hawking radiation. However, it identifies a contradiction; the eternal perspective of black holes from the AdS/CFT theory challenges the firewall paradox's foundation. Finally, I narrate a paradigm shift as HH reframes Alice's task within the realms of error-correcting codes, illustrating a remarkable transition from a physical problem in black hole physics to a computational predicament in computer science. The study revisits pivotal moments in understanding black hole physics ten years later through this reexamination.
2023-09-17
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22559/1/Harlow-Hayden.pdf
Weinstein, Galina (2023) Reframing the Event Horizon: The Harlow-Hayden Computational Approach to the Firewall Paradox. [Preprint]
https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.09382
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22634
2023-10-07T16:26:39Z
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7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D67656E:74686F756768742D6578706572696D656E7473
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22634/
Navigating the Conjectural Labyrinth of the
Black Hole Information Paradox
Weinstein, Galina
Causation
Quantum
Computer Science
Laws of Nature
Quantum Gravity
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
Thought Experiments
This paper explores the enduring black hole information and firewall paradoxes, challenges that have prompted many proposals, conjectures, and theories. Noteworthy among these are the ER = EPR conjecture and AdS/CFT correspondence, which suggest possible avenues toward the yet-to-be-realized unified theory of quantum gravity. This discourse offers a
comprehensive analysis of the aforementioned paradoxes, drawing upon insights from efforts to reconcile the schism between general relativity and quantum mechanics.
2023-10-05
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22634/1/Navigating%20the%20Conjectural%20Labyrinth%20of%20the%20Black%20Hole%20Information%20Paradox.pdf
Weinstein, Galina (2023) Navigating the Conjectural Labyrinth of the Black Hole Information Paradox. [Preprint]
https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.03607v1
oai:philsci-archive.pitt.edu:22887
2023-12-22T16:17:19Z
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7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:7175616E74756D2D6D656368616E696373
7375626A656374733D73706563:70687973696373:72656C617469766974792D7468656F7279
7375626A656374733D67656E:7468656F72792D6F62736572766174696F6E
74797065733D706974747072657072696E74
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22887/
Eliminating the ‘impossible’: Recent progress on local measurement theory for quantum field theory
Papageorgiou, Maria
Fraser, Doreen
Quantum
Determinism/Indeterminism
Fields and Particles
Models and Idealization
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity Theory
Theory/Observation
Arguments by Sorkin and Borsten, Jubb, and Kells establish that a natural extension of quantum measurement theory from non-relativistic quantum mechanics to relativistic quantum theory leads to the unacceptable consequence that expectation values in one region depend on which non-selective measurement is performed in a spacelike separated region. Sorkin labels such scenarios `impossible measurements'. We explicitly present these arguments as a no-go result with the logical form of a reductio argument and investigate the consequences for measurement in quantum field theory (QFT). Sorkin-type impossible measurement scenarios clearly illustrate the moral that Microcausality is not by itself sufficient to rule out superluminal signalling in relativistic quantum theories that use L{\"u}ders' rule. We review three different approaches to formulating an account of measurement for QFT and analyze their responses to the `impossible measurements' problem. Two of the approaches are recent proposals for measurement theories for QFT: a measurement theory based on detector models proposed in Polo-G{\'o}mez, Garay, and Mart{\'i}n-Mart{\'i}nez and a measurement framework for algebraic QFT proposed in Fewster and Verch. Of particular interest for foundations of QFT is that they share common features that may hold general morals about how to represent measurement in QFT, in spite of being much different in spirit and in details such as the form taken by the state update rules. Careful attention to the dynamics is an important component of both strategies for responding to the `impossible measurements' problem. Both also abandon the traditional operational interpretation of a local algebra of observables $\mathcal{A}(O)$ as representing possible operations carried out in region $O$. Their respective state update rules cannot be literally interpreted as representing a physical change of state of the system upon measurement that occurs in any region of spacetime. The third response to the `impossible measurements' problem that we examine is the histories-based approach that is preferred by Sorkin. While there are open questions about how to address the `impossible measurements' problem using this approach, it is much different in spirit than the detector models approach and the FV framework yet also shares some common features. We hope that this paper lays the groundwork for productive dialogue among the many communities of physicists and philosophers who are working on theoretical, practical, and interpretative issues surrounding the treatment of local measurements in QFT.
2023-07-19
Preprint
NonPeerReviewed
text
en
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/22887/7/Impossible_measurements_rev.pdf
Papageorgiou, Maria and Fraser, Doreen (2023) Eliminating the ‘impossible’: Recent progress on local measurement theory for quantum field theory. [Preprint]