Axioms for Quantum Theory| Axioms for Quantum Theory |
In General
* Conventional approach:
One possible set (adapted from slides by W Zurek) is
(1) The universe is made of systems.
(2) Each system has a Hilbert space; The Hilbert space of a composite
system is the tensor product of the constituent ones.
(3) A pure state for a system is a vector in the Hilbert space of that system.
(4) The evolution of an isolated system is a unitary transformation on Hilbert space.
(5) Observables are associated with Hermitian operators on Hilbert space.
(6) The only possible outcome of a measurement is an eigenstate (and eigenvalue)
of the operator.
(7) Probabilities of various outcomes are given by Born's rule.
* Information-theory approach: Hardy's
2001 work recast the issue in information-theory terms, based on "reasonable"
operational axioms rather than formalism.
* Yakir Aharonov's idea: The conjecture
that the two axioms of relativistic causality ("no superluminal signalling")
and non-locality so nearly contradict each other that a unique theory – quantum
mechanics – reconciles them; D Rohrlich adds a third axiom, the existence of a
classical limit in which macroscopic observables commute.
References > s.a. causality in quantum theory;
logic; origin of quantum theory.
@ General: Margenau PR(36) [removal of one postulate];
Piron HPA(64);
Fivel pr(73);
Guz IJTP(77);
Bugajski & Lahti IJTP(80);
Landsman qp/96;
Landsman 98;
Ghaboussi qp/98;
Hardy qp/00-wd;
Aerts qp/01-in;
Khrennikov in(02)qp;
Volovich qp/02 [new set];
Minic & Tze PLB(04)ht/03;
Sakai qp/04/JMP;
Slavnov TMP(05)qp [based on algebra of observables and functionals];
Mehrafarin IJTP(05);
Parwani IJTP(06);
Held FP(08)-a0705;
Diego a0801;
Wada a0909 [minimal set];
Dakić & Brukner a0911-ch [and entanglement];
Santos a0912 [with realist interpretation];
Wilce a0912;
Dutailly a1301;
Friedberg & Hohenberg FP(18)-a1711 [minimal formulation];
Bertram a1711 [geometric setting];
Aravinda et al EPJD(19)-a1809 [hierarchical];
Jeandel a1810 [diagrammatic language];
D'Ariano FP-a2011
[spurious postulates and purification ontology].
@ Necessity of axioms: Kotúlek JMP(09);
Jeknić-Dugić et al a1711;
De Raedt et al a1805
[no axioms needed, separation of preparation and measurement].
@ Based on probability theory: Hardy qp/01
[from classical probability, comment Schack FP(03)qp/02,
Duck qp/03,
Johnson qp/06];
Masanes & Müller NJP(11)-a1004,
Müller & Masanes in(16)-a1203
[four requirements compatible only with classical probability and quantum theory];
Cassinelli & Lahti FP(16)-a1508 [using the framework of generalized probabilistic theories].
@ Based on information:
Grinbaum PhD(04)qp;
Fivel FP(12)-a1010;
Chiribella et al PRA(11)-a1011
+ Brukner Phy(11);
Fields a1102;
Masanes et al PNAS(13)-a1208;
Chiribella & Scandolo EPJWC(15)-a1411;
> s.a. quantum information.
@ Other physical requirements: Rohrlich a1011-ch [two postulates, based on non-locality and causality];
Moldoveanu JPCS(15)-a1303 [from invariance laws],
equivalent to Kapustin JMP(13)-a1303 [categorical language];
Rohrlich in(13)-a1407
[derivation of Tsirelson's bound from three axioms];
Jia a1808 [with indefinite causal structure].
@ Operational: D'Ariano AIP-qp/05,
qp/06-conf,
qp/06-conf,
qp/06-conf;
D'Ariano & Tosini QIP(10) [testing with toy theories];
Hardy a1104
[reformulation of finite-dimensional quantum theory in the circuit framework],
a1303;
Fuchs & Stacey a1401-conf [comments on operational approaches];
Benavoli et al a1902
[quantum theory as a computationally tractable theory];
Oeckl a1903-proc
[from notions of measurement and composition, positive formalism];
Hardy a2104 [time-symmetric framework].
@ Quantum-gravity-motivated: Giddings PRD(08)-a0711.
@ From cryptography: Clifton et al FP(03)qp/02;
Smolin qp/03;
Halvorson & Bub qp/03.
Related Topics
@ Use of Hilbert space:
de Ronde & Massri a1412 [inconsistency?].
@ Projection postulate: Ballentine FP(90);
Kronz PhSc(92)mar;
> s.a. wave-function collapse.
@ Linearity: Caticha PLA(98)qp,
PRA(98)qp [need];
Aerts & Valckenborgh qp/02-in,
qp/02-in [questioning];
Jordan PRA(06)qp/05 [assumptions];
> s.a. non-linear quantum mechanics.
@ For relativistic quantum theory: Kent PTRS(15)-a1411,
PRA(17)-a1608 [realist, one-world, relativistic framework].
@ Other topics: Lahti IJTP(80) [uncertainty and complementarity];
Mould qp/05,
qp/05,
AIP(06)qp [auxiliary rules, nRules],
qp/06 [covariance of nRules];
Nottale & Célérier JPA(07)-a0711 [from principles of scale relativity];
Stachow IJTP(80) [logic foundations];
de la Torre et al PRL(12)-a1110 [quantum theory from local structure and reversibility];
Budiyono & Rohrlich nComm(17)-a1711 [common framework with classical statistical mechanics];
Carcassi et al PRL-a2003
[deriving the tensor product postulate from the others].
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send feedback and suggestions to bombelli at olemiss.edu – modified 2 apr 2021