Multiple-event probability in general-relativistic quantum mechanics

We discuss the definition of quantum probability in the context of "timeless" general--relativistic quantum mechanics. In particular, we study the probability of sequences of events, or multi-event probability. In conventional quantum mechanics this can be obtained by means of the ``wave f...

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Veröffentlicht in:Physical review. D 2007-04, Vol.75 (8), Article 084033
Hauptverfasser: Hellmann, Frank, Mondragon, Mauricio, Perez, Alejandro, Rovelli, Carlo
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We discuss the definition of quantum probability in the context of "timeless" general--relativistic quantum mechanics. In particular, we study the probability of sequences of events, or multi-event probability. In conventional quantum mechanics this can be obtained by means of the ``wave function collapse" algorithm. We first point out certain difficulties of some natural definitions of multi-event probability, including the conditional probability widely considered in the literature. We then observe that multi-event probability can be reduced to single-event probability, by taking into account the quantum nature of the measuring apparatus. In fact, by exploiting the von-Neumann freedom of moving the quantum classical boundary, one can always trade a sequence of non-commuting quantum measurements at different times, with an ensemble of simultaneous commuting measurements on the joint system+apparatus system. This observation permits a formulation of quantum theory based only on single-event probability, where the results of the "wave function collapse" algorithm can nevertheless be recovered. The discussion bears also on the nature of the quantum collapse.
ISSN:1550-7998
2470-0010
0556-2821
1550-2368
2470-0029
1089-4918
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevD.75.084033