Is the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics consistent?

6th International Workshop DICE2012 Spacetime – Matter – Quantum Mechanics: From the Planck Scale to Emergent Phenomena

物理学;力学

Okon, Elias^1

Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Maestro Mario de la Cueva s/n, México D.F. 04510, Mexico^1

关键词: Quantum framework;    Quantum mechanical;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/442/1/012045/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/442/1/012045

学科分类：力学，机械学

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

The Consistent Histories (CH) formalism attempts to construct a quantum framework which can be used without the need to introduce observers external to the studied system. The prime motivation in mind is the application of the formalism to the universe as a whole. In order to achieve this, CH maintains that a formulation of quantum mechanics should allow for the assignment of probabilities to alternative histories of a system. Therefore, it provides an observer-independent criterion to decide which sets of histories can be given probabilities and states rules to determine them. The framework establishes that each realm, that is, each set of histories to which probabilities can be assigned, provides a valid quantum-mechanical account of a system. Furthermore, the version of CH first presented in [1, 2] proposes an "evolutionary" explanation of our existence in the universe and of our preference for quasiclassical descriptions of nature. The present work critically evaluates claims to the effect that the formalism offered in [1, 2] solves many interpretational problems in quantum mechanics. In particular, it is pointed out that the interpretation of the proposed framework leaves vague two crucial points, namely, whether realms are fixed or chosen and the link between measurements and histories. The claim of this work is that by doing so, CH overlooks the main interpretational problems of quantum mechanics. Furthermore, we challenge the evolutionary explanation offered and we critically examine the proposed notion of a realm-dependent reality.