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The Stochastic-Quantum Theorem

Barandes, Jacob A. (2026) The Stochastic-Quantum Theorem. [Preprint]

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Abstract

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 indivisible stochastic processes, 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 indivisible stochastic process and a unitarily evolving quantum system. This theorem therefore leads to a new formulation of quantum theory, alongside the Hilbert-space, path-integral, and quasi-probability 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 indivisible stochastic process on a quantum computer, thereby potentially opening up an extensive set of novel applications for quantum computing.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Barandes, Jacob A.jacob_barandes@harvard.edu0000-0002-3740-4418
Keywords: quantum mechanics, quantum theory, stochastic processes, indivisibility, non-Markovianity, quantum foundations, philosophy of quantum mechanics, interpretations of quantum mechanics, dynamical systems, quantum computing
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Computation/Information > Quantum
General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Specific Sciences > Mathematics
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: Dr. Jacob Barandes
Date Deposited: 05 Feb 2026 13:49
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2026 13:49
Item ID: 28122
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Computation/Information > Quantum
General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism
General Issues > Laws of Nature
Specific Sciences > Mathematics
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: 5 February 2026
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28122

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