Quantum Probability via the Method of Arbitrary Functions

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bonds, Liam, Burson, Brooke, Cicchella, Kade, Feintzeig, Benjamin H., Lynnx, Yusaini, Alia
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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_version_ 1866913517080150016
author Bonds, Liam
Burson, Brooke
Cicchella, Kade
Feintzeig, Benjamin H.
Lynnx
Yusaini, Alia
author_facet Bonds, Liam
Burson, Brooke
Cicchella, Kade
Feintzeig, Benjamin H.
Lynnx
Yusaini, Alia
contents The goal of this paper is to apply the collection of mathematical tools known as the "method of arbitrary functions" to analyze how probability arises from quantum dynamics. We argue that in a toy model of quantum measurement the Born rule probabilities can be derived from the unitary Schrödinger dynamics when certain dynamical parameters are treated as themselves random variables with initial probability distributions. Specifically, we study the perturbed double well model, in which the perturbation is treated as a random variable, and we show that for arbitrary initial distributions within a certain class, the dynamics yields the Born rule probabilities in the joint limits given by long times and small values of Planck's constant (the classical limit). Our results establish the Born rule as a type of universal limiting behavior that is independent of the precise initial dynamical parameters.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_16457
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quantum Probability via the Method of Arbitrary Functions
Bonds, Liam
Burson, Brooke
Cicchella, Kade
Feintzeig, Benjamin H.
Lynnx
Yusaini, Alia
Quantum Physics
81P15
The goal of this paper is to apply the collection of mathematical tools known as the "method of arbitrary functions" to analyze how probability arises from quantum dynamics. We argue that in a toy model of quantum measurement the Born rule probabilities can be derived from the unitary Schrödinger dynamics when certain dynamical parameters are treated as themselves random variables with initial probability distributions. Specifically, we study the perturbed double well model, in which the perturbation is treated as a random variable, and we show that for arbitrary initial distributions within a certain class, the dynamics yields the Born rule probabilities in the joint limits given by long times and small values of Planck's constant (the classical limit). Our results establish the Born rule as a type of universal limiting behavior that is independent of the precise initial dynamical parameters.
title Quantum Probability via the Method of Arbitrary Functions
topic Quantum Physics
81P15
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.16457