Comment on arXiv:2601.04248v1: Superposition of states in quantum theory (J.-M. Vigoureux)
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866915725689487360 |
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| author | Sienicki, Mikołaj Sienicki, Krzysztof |
| author_facet | Sienicki, Mikołaj Sienicki, Krzysztof |
| contents | Vigoureux suggests replacing the usual linear superposition rule of quantum mechanics with a M"obius-type "composition law" $\oplus$, motivated by (i) bounded-domain composition laws in special relativity, (ii) familiar transfer-matrix formulas in multilayer optics, and (iii) an analogy with the inclusion-exclusion rule for classical probabilities. In this note we explain why the proposal does not work as a modification of quantum theory. For two components, the new rule differs from the ordinary sum only by an overall scalar factor, so after normalization it represents the same ray and cannot change any physical prediction. For three or more components, if one extends the two-term prescription in the natural recursive way, the result becomes bracket/order dependent and can even change the ray, so a "state" is no longer uniquely determined by a given preparation. We also clarify why the inclusion-exclusion argument and the optics analogy do not support a foundational change to Hilbert-space linearity. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_08076 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Comment on arXiv:2601.04248v1: Superposition of states in quantum theory (J.-M. Vigoureux) Sienicki, Mikołaj Sienicki, Krzysztof General Physics Vigoureux suggests replacing the usual linear superposition rule of quantum mechanics with a M"obius-type "composition law" $\oplus$, motivated by (i) bounded-domain composition laws in special relativity, (ii) familiar transfer-matrix formulas in multilayer optics, and (iii) an analogy with the inclusion-exclusion rule for classical probabilities. In this note we explain why the proposal does not work as a modification of quantum theory. For two components, the new rule differs from the ordinary sum only by an overall scalar factor, so after normalization it represents the same ray and cannot change any physical prediction. For three or more components, if one extends the two-term prescription in the natural recursive way, the result becomes bracket/order dependent and can even change the ray, so a "state" is no longer uniquely determined by a given preparation. We also clarify why the inclusion-exclusion argument and the optics analogy do not support a foundational change to Hilbert-space linearity. |
| title | Comment on arXiv:2601.04248v1: Superposition of states in quantum theory (J.-M. Vigoureux) |
| topic | General Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08076 |