Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Carcassi, Gabriele, Landini, Manuele, Aidala, Christine A.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Carcassi, Gabriele
Landini, Manuele
Aidala, Christine A.
author_facet Carcassi, Gabriele
Landini, Manuele
Aidala, Christine A.
contents We show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics. That is, the high entropy masks quantum effects, and mixed states of high enough entropy can be approximated with classical distributions. The mathematical limit $\hbar \to 0$ can be reinterpreted as setting the zero entropy of pure states to $-\infty$, in the same way that non-relativistic mechanics can be recovered mathematically with $c \to \infty$. Physically, these limits are more appropriately defined as $S \gg 0$ and $v \ll c$. Both limits can then be understood as approximations independently of what circumstances allow those approximations to be valid. Consequently, the limit presented is independent of possible underlying mechanisms and of what interpretation is chosen for both quantum states and entropy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_00972
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics
Carcassi, Gabriele
Landini, Manuele
Aidala, Christine A.
Quantum Physics
We show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics. That is, the high entropy masks quantum effects, and mixed states of high enough entropy can be approximated with classical distributions. The mathematical limit $\hbar \to 0$ can be reinterpreted as setting the zero entropy of pure states to $-\infty$, in the same way that non-relativistic mechanics can be recovered mathematically with $c \to \infty$. Physically, these limits are more appropriately defined as $S \gg 0$ and $v \ll c$. Both limits can then be understood as approximations independently of what circumstances allow those approximations to be valid. Consequently, the limit presented is independent of possible underlying mechanisms and of what interpretation is chosen for both quantum states and entropy.
title Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.00972