Reality Construction in Quantum Theory: Invariants and the ...QT in a Nutshell & the MP...

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Reality Construction inQuantum Theory: Invariantsand the Constitutive a priori

Florian Boge

IZWT, Wuppertal

26.04.2017

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quantum Theory in a Nutshell

I quantum theory (QT) is the empirically & practically mostsuccessful scientific theory

I underlies much of modern physics (particle physics, string theoryetc.)

I applies mostly to tiny objects (‘elementary particles’, atoms,molecules) but also to e.g. small (O(µm)) circuits (‘SQUIDS’)

I how to interpret it?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 2/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quantum Theory in a Nutshell

I quantum theory (QT) is the empirically & practically mostsuccessful scientific theory

I underlies much of modern physics (particle physics, string theoryetc.)

I applies mostly to tiny objects (‘elementary particles’, atoms,molecules) but also to e.g. small (O(µm)) circuits (‘SQUIDS’)

I how to interpret it?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 2/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quantum Theory in a Nutshell

I quantum theory (QT) is the empirically & practically mostsuccessful scientific theory

I underlies much of modern physics (particle physics, string theoryetc.)

I applies mostly to tiny objects (‘elementary particles’, atoms,molecules) but also to e.g. small (O(µm)) circuits (‘SQUIDS’)

I how to interpret it?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 2/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quantum Theory in a Nutshell

I quantum theory (QT) is the empirically & practically mostsuccessful scientific theory

I underlies much of modern physics (particle physics, string theoryetc.)

I applies mostly to tiny objects (‘elementary particles’, atoms,molecules) but also to e.g. small (O(µm)) circuits (‘SQUIDS’)

I how to interpret it?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 2/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I states |ψ〉 form a linear vector space H over the field of complexnumbers, C

I C 3 α = a + ıb, where a, b ∈ R, ı =√−1

I α∗ = a − ıb is called the complex conjugateI alternate form: α = |α|eıϕ

I physically observable magnitudes (‘observables’) represented by(self-adjoint, linear) operators O acting on H

I non-commuting operators; e.g. xp − px = ı h , 0 (order makes adifference)

I unitary (linear, bijective, norm preserving) operators U representstate transformations

I e.g. dynamics: U(t; tf ) |ψ(t)〉 = |ψ(tf )〉with U(t; tf ) = e−ı h H(tf−t)

(simplest case)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 3/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I principle of superposition (kinematic): If |a〉 , |b〉 represent states, sodoes |c〉 = α |a〉+ β |b〉 , α,β ∈ C

I ubiquitous feature: any state can be written as a ‘superpositionstate’, in a different basis of H:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 4/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I principle of superposition (kinematic): If |a〉 , |b〉 represent states, sodoes |c〉 = α |a〉+ β |b〉 , α,β ∈ C

I ubiquitous feature: any state can be written as a ‘superpositionstate’, in a different basis of H:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 4/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I principle of superposition (kinematic): If |a〉 , |b〉 represent states, sodoes |c〉 = α |a〉+ β |b〉 , α,β ∈ C

I ubiquitous feature: any state can be written as a ‘superpositionstate’, in a different basis of H:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 4/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Structure of the Theory

I principle of superposition (kinematic): If |a〉 , |b〉 represent states, sodoes |c〉 = α |a〉+ β |b〉 , α,β ∈ C

I ubiquitous feature: any state can be written as a ‘superpositionstate’, in a different basis of H:

|A2〉

|A1〉

|B1〉

|B2〉

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 4/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Minimal Interpretation

I eigenvalue-eigenstate link: System S, described by |oj〉, is in a statewith definite value oj for observable O iff O |oj〉 = oj |oj〉

I non-commuting (self-adjoint) operators representnon-co-measurable observables

I for general state |ψ〉 = α1 |o1〉+ α2 |o2〉+ α3 |o3〉+ . . . =∑

j αj |oj〉,we have PrψO (oj) =

∣∣⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩∣∣2 = |αj|

2 (Born’s rule)I⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩ is called an inner product and computes a complex number

(αj)

I 〈oi|oj〉 = δij =

1 if i = j0 else

(orthonormal basis; ONB)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 5/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Minimal Interpretation

I eigenvalue-eigenstate link: System S, described by |oj〉, is in a statewith definite value oj for observable O iff O |oj〉 = oj |oj〉

I non-commuting (self-adjoint) operators representnon-co-measurable observables

I for general state |ψ〉 = α1 |o1〉+ α2 |o2〉+ α3 |o3〉+ . . . =∑

j αj |oj〉,we have PrψO (oj) =

∣∣⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩∣∣2 = |αj|

2 (Born’s rule)I⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩ is called an inner product and computes a complex number

(αj)

I 〈oi|oj〉 = δij =

1 if i = j0 else

(orthonormal basis; ONB)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 5/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Minimal Interpretation

I eigenvalue-eigenstate link: System S, described by |oj〉, is in a statewith definite value oj for observable O iff O |oj〉 = oj |oj〉

I non-commuting (self-adjoint) operators representnon-co-measurable observables

I for general state |ψ〉 = α1 |o1〉+ α2 |o2〉+ α3 |o3〉+ . . . =∑

j αj |oj〉,we have PrψO (oj) =

∣∣⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩∣∣2 = |αj|

2 (Born’s rule)I⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩ is called an inner product and computes a complex number

(αj)

I 〈oi|oj〉 = δij =

1 if i = j0 else

(orthonormal basis; ONB)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 5/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Minimal Interpretation

I eigenvalue-eigenstate link: System S, described by |oj〉, is in a statewith definite value oj for observable O iff O |oj〉 = oj |oj〉

I non-commuting (self-adjoint) operators representnon-co-measurable observables

I for general state |ψ〉 = α1 |o1〉+ α2 |o2〉+ α3 |o3〉+ . . . =∑

j αj |oj〉,we have PrψO (oj) =

∣∣⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩∣∣2 = |αj|

2 (Born’s rule)I⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩ is called an inner product and computes a complex number

(αj)

I 〈oi|oj〉 = δij =

1 if i = j0 else

(orthonormal basis; ONB)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 5/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Minimal Interpretation

I eigenvalue-eigenstate link: System S, described by |oj〉, is in a statewith definite value oj for observable O iff O |oj〉 = oj |oj〉

I non-commuting (self-adjoint) operators representnon-co-measurable observables

I for general state |ψ〉 = α1 |o1〉+ α2 |o2〉+ α3 |o3〉+ . . . =∑

j αj |oj〉,we have PrψO (oj) =

∣∣⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩∣∣2 = |αj|

2 (Born’s rule)I⟨oj∣∣ψ⟩ is called an inner product and computes a complex number

(αj)

I 〈oi|oj〉 = δij =

1 if i = j0 else

(orthonormal basis; ONB)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 5/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

The Measurement Problem

I |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→ |ok〉 |Moj〉, where U = e

ı h Hint∆t

I∑

j αj |oj〉 |M0〉U7−→∑

j,k αjk |ok〉 |Moj〉 =∑

j αj |oj〉 |Moj〉 =: |ψSM〉I entangled state, i.e., cannot be written as | ˜oj〉 |Moj〉 in any basis ofHS ⊗HM

I projection postulate (Dirac, 1958; von Neumann, 1932):|ψSM〉 7→ P`|ψSM〉

‖P`|ψSM〉‖= |o`〉 |Mo`〉

I what does this all mean?I how/when/where/why does the change occur? What causes it?

(“Heisenberg cut”; “Wigner’s friend”)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 6/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory (preliminaries)

I |ψ〉 vs. |ψ〉〈ψ| = Pψ,I |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉〈oj| |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉 〈oj|ψ〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=αj

(pure state)

I O =∑

j oj |oj〉〈oj|

I density operator ρ =∑

k pk |ψ(k)〉〈ψ(k)| (mixed state)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 7/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory (preliminaries)

I |ψ〉 vs. |ψ〉〈ψ| = Pψ,I |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉〈oj| |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉 〈oj|ψ〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=αj

(pure state)

I O =∑

j oj |oj〉〈oj|

I density operator ρ =∑

k pk |ψ(k)〉〈ψ(k)| (mixed state)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 7/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory (preliminaries)

I |ψ〉 vs. |ψ〉〈ψ| = Pψ,I |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉〈oj| |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉 〈oj|ψ〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=αj

(pure state)

I O =∑

j oj |oj〉〈oj|

I density operator ρ =∑

k pk |ψ(k)〉〈ψ(k)| (mixed state)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 7/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory (preliminaries)

I |ψ〉 vs. |ψ〉〈ψ| = Pψ,I |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉〈oj| |ψ〉 =

∑j |oj〉 〈oj|ψ〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=αj

(pure state)

I O =∑

j oj |oj〉〈oj|

I density operator ρ =∑

k pk |ψ(k)〉〈ψ(k)| (mixed state)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 7/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Decoherence Theory

I USM,E |ΨSM〉 |E0〉 = USM,E∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |E0〉 =∑

j αj |Sj〉 |Mj〉 |Ej〉I partial tracing:

I ρSME = |ΨSME〉〈ΨSME| =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi|⊗ |Ej〉〈Ei|

I TrE(ρSME) =: ρSM =∑

i,j αjα∗i |Sj〉〈Si|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mi| 〈Ej|Ei〉

I if 〈Ei|Ej〉 ≈ 0 for i , j, after a short decoherence time we haveρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|

I approximate & improper mixture of eigenstates ( |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)of preferred observables M =

∑j aj |Mj〉〈Mj| , S =

∑j sj |Sj〉〈Sj|

I states stable under influence of environment (‘preferred basis’)I typically approximately localized states with approximately

well-defined velocity/momentum (quasi-classical)I not one single state of the preferred observable!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 8/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I time evolution unitary, does not change the norm:〈ψ|U†(t)U(t)|ψ〉 = 〈ψ|ψ〉

I with |ψ(t)〉 =∑

j αj(t) |oj〉 this means∑i,j α∗i (t)αj(t) 〈oi|oj〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=δij

=∑

j |αj(t)|2

I probability conservation

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 9/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I time evolution unitary, does not change the norm:〈ψ|U†(t)U(t)|ψ〉 = 〈ψ|ψ〉

I with |ψ(t)〉 =∑

j αj(t) |oj〉 this means∑i,j α∗i (t)αj(t) 〈oi|oj〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=δij

=∑

j |αj(t)|2

I probability conservation

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 9/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I time evolution unitary, does not change the norm:〈ψ|U†(t)U(t)|ψ〉 = 〈ψ|ψ〉

I with |ψ(t)〉 =∑

j αj(t) |oj〉 this means∑i,j α∗i (t)αj(t) 〈oi|oj〉︸ ︷︷ ︸

=δij

=∑

j |αj(t)|2

I probability conservation

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 9/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

I epistemic probabilities?

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

t = 0

t t′

t′ = 0

causescausesprevents

I epistemic probabilities?Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Meaning of the Probabilities?

I objective probabilities?

|X1〉 |X2〉 |X3〉 |X4〉Pi |X3〉

I projection postulate instantaneous action at a distanceI what about relativity; preferred frame of reference?

t = 0

t t′

t′ = 0

causescausesprevents

I epistemic probabilities?Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 10/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Hidden Variables?

I assumption: hidden states λ that do not occur in QT (Einstein et al.,1935)

I modern framework (Spekkens, 2005; Harrigan and Spekkens,2010): prepared state |ψ〉 7→ pψ(λ), measured state |φ〉 7→ ξ

φM(λ)

I | 〈φ|ψ〉 |2 =∫Λ dλ pψ(λ)ξ

φM(λ)

I can so far only reproduce parts of QT (e.g. Spekkens, 2007; Bartlettet al., 2012)

I incompatible with a host of other desirable assumptions about λ(e.g. Pusey et al., 2012; Hardy, 2013)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 11/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Hidden Variables?

I assumption: hidden states λ that do not occur in QT (Einstein et al.,1935)

I modern framework (Spekkens, 2005; Harrigan and Spekkens,2010): prepared state |ψ〉 7→ pψ(λ), measured state |φ〉 7→ ξ

φM(λ)

I | 〈φ|ψ〉 |2 =∫Λ dλ pψ(λ)ξ

φM(λ)

I can so far only reproduce parts of QT (e.g. Spekkens, 2007; Bartlettet al., 2012)

I incompatible with a host of other desirable assumptions about λ(e.g. Pusey et al., 2012; Hardy, 2013)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 11/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Hidden Variables?

I assumption: hidden states λ that do not occur in QT (Einstein et al.,1935)

I modern framework (Spekkens, 2005; Harrigan and Spekkens,2010): prepared state |ψ〉 7→ pψ(λ), measured state |φ〉 7→ ξ

φM(λ)

I | 〈φ|ψ〉 |2 =∫Λ dλ pψ(λ)ξ

φM(λ)

I can so far only reproduce parts of QT (e.g. Spekkens, 2007; Bartlettet al., 2012)

I incompatible with a host of other desirable assumptions about λ(e.g. Pusey et al., 2012; Hardy, 2013)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 11/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Hidden Variables?

I assumption: hidden states λ that do not occur in QT (Einstein et al.,1935)

I modern framework (Spekkens, 2005; Harrigan and Spekkens,2010): prepared state |ψ〉 7→ pψ(λ), measured state |φ〉 7→ ξ

φM(λ)

I | 〈φ|ψ〉 |2 =∫Λ dλ pψ(λ)ξ

φM(λ)

I can so far only reproduce parts of QT (e.g. Spekkens, 2007; Bartlettet al., 2012)

I incompatible with a host of other desirable assumptions about λ(e.g. Pusey et al., 2012; Hardy, 2013)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 11/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Hidden Variables?

I assumption: hidden states λ that do not occur in QT (Einstein et al.,1935)

I modern framework (Spekkens, 2005; Harrigan and Spekkens,2010): prepared state |ψ〉 7→ pψ(λ), measured state |φ〉 7→ ξ

φM(λ)

I | 〈φ|ψ〉 |2 =∫Λ dλ pψ(λ)ξ

φM(λ)

I can so far only reproduce parts of QT (e.g. Spekkens, 2007; Bartlettet al., 2012)

I incompatible with a host of other desirable assumptions about λ(e.g. Pusey et al., 2012; Hardy, 2013)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 11/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I most important result: Bell inequalities (Bell, 1964)a

b

θab

I Prψ(Lxi , Ry

j |i, j, λ) = Prψ(Lxi |i, λ)Prψ(R

yj |j, λ)

I Prψ(λ|i, j) = Prψ(λ)⇒ −2 6

⟨Rx

j , Lyi

⟩i,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j,ψ

+⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i

⟩i,j′,ψ

−⟨

Rxj′ , Ly

i′

⟩i′,j′,ψ

6 2

I violated according to |χ〉 = 1√2(|↑↓〉− |↓↑〉) – which implies

probabilities 12 cos2(θab/2) for respective opposite values and

12 sin2(θab/2) for respective equal values – and experiment

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 12/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

D1 D2

s1 s2

E

t

x

λ

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 13/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I Einstein (1949): “either [...] the measurement of S1 (telepathically)changes the real situation of S2 or [one has to deny] independentreal situations as such to things which are spatially separated fromeach other. Both alternatives appear to me entirely unacceptable.”

I Bohr (1935) demands “a final renunciation of the classical ideal ofcausality and a radical revision of our attitude towards theproblem of physical reality.”

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 14/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

I Einstein (1949): “either [...] the measurement of S1 (telepathically)changes the real situation of S2 or [one has to deny] independentreal situations as such to things which are spatially separated fromeach other. Both alternatives appear to me entirely unacceptable.”

I Bohr (1935) demands “a final renunciation of the classical ideal ofcausality and a radical revision of our attitude towards theproblem of physical reality.”

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 14/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Copenhagen traditionI ambiguous/hard to pin down as a precise interpretation at all

I QBismI offers theorems that connect probabilities in QT to subjective

Bayesian onesI relies on rather objective assumptions after all (‘frequency data’;

implicit rationality constraints for agents)I cannot make sense of observed frequenciesI does not account well for decoherenceI vague ond epistemological issues

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 15/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Epistemic Interpretations Without λ?

I Healey (2012)I |ψ〉 has a normative character (what should you expect), not a

descriptive oneI decoherence tells us...

(i) ...when to expect what and with what probability(ρSM ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|⊗ |Mj〉〈Mj|)(ii) ...when certain statements are meaningful

I (ii) is too strong: we still understand “both atoms already had theirspin up”, even if not ‘warranted’ by evidence

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 16/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quine (1939, pp. 702-3; emphasis mine)If the word “Pegasus” designates something then there is such a thingas Pegasus, whereas if the word does not designate anything then thestatement would appear to lack subject-matter and thus to fall intomeaninglessness. Actually, this problem rests only on failure toobserve that a noun can be meaningful in the absence of a designatum.[...] The understanding of a term [...] does not imply a designatum; itprecedes knowledge of whether or not the term has a designatum.

Healey (2012, p. 747; emphasis mine)[...] no natural limit such that one could say that [...] one has finallysucceeded in establishing a kind of natural language-worldcorrespondence relation in virtue of which [a given] statement correctlyrepresents some radically mind- and language-independent state ofaffairs.

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 17/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Quine (1939, pp. 702-3; emphasis mine)If the word “Pegasus” designates something then there is such a thingas Pegasus, whereas if the word does not designate anything then thestatement would appear to lack subject-matter and thus to fall intomeaninglessness. Actually, this problem rests only on failure toobserve that a noun can be meaningful in the absence of a designatum.[...] The understanding of a term [...] does not imply a designatum; itprecedes knowledge of whether or not the term has a designatum.

Healey (2012, p. 747; emphasis mine)[...] no natural limit such that one could say that [...] one has finallysucceeded in establishing a kind of natural language-worldcorrespondence relation in virtue of which [a given] statement correctlyrepresents some radically mind- and language-independent state ofaffairs.

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 17/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I if there is no “natural language-world correspondence”, thenwhat is meant by “physical reality” (as used by Healey)?

I internal realism(s) (Kant, 1781; Putnam, 1975, 1990):I the world we experience is, to a large extent, constructed with the

aid of a priori prescriptions

I Kant’s problem: synthetic a priori with eternal, unrestricted validityis hardly tenable (e.g. Reichenbach, 1920; d’Espagnat, 2011)

I Reichenbach (1920); Friedman (1999): constitutive a priori:I relative to a given theory, there are ‘coordinative axioms’ that

prescribe what the theory talks aboutI only in virtue of these do (the terms appearing in) other statements

of the theory (‘empirical laws’) get their very meaning

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 18/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I how to tell what is being prescribed? Find invariants of the theoryunder a relevant group, G, of transformations (e.g. Friedman, 1999,p. 67)

I example:I in general relativity, spacetime is represented by an ordered tuple(M, T(i))i∈I, where M can be covered by subsets U ⊆M that can bemapped continuously into Rn

I if two ordered tuples (M, T(i))i∈I, (N, T(i))i∈I are related by adiffeomorphism φ, a C∞ bijective map, with induced map φ∗ thatrelates T(i) = φ∗T(i), they represent the same spacetime(diffeomorphism invariance)

I “[...] and so only the underlying topology and manifold structureremain constitutively a priori. [...] physical geometry (the metric ofphysical space) is no longer constitutive.” (Friedman, 1999, p. 66)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 19/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I how to tell what is being prescribed? Find invariants of the theoryunder a relevant group, G, of transformations (e.g. Friedman, 1999,p. 67)

I example:I in general relativity, spacetime is represented by an ordered tuple(M, T(i))i∈I, where M can be covered by subsets U ⊆M that can bemapped continuously into Rn

I if two ordered tuples (M, T(i))i∈I, (N, T(i))i∈I are related by adiffeomorphism φ, a C∞ bijective map, with induced map φ∗ thatrelates T(i) = φ∗T(i), they represent the same spacetime(diffeomorphism invariance)

I “[...] and so only the underlying topology and manifold structureremain constitutively a priori. [...] physical geometry (the metric ofphysical space) is no longer constitutive.” (Friedman, 1999, p. 66)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 19/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I how to tell what is being prescribed? Find invariants of the theoryunder a relevant group, G, of transformations (e.g. Friedman, 1999,p. 67)

I example:I in general relativity, spacetime is represented by an ordered tuple(M, T(i))i∈I, where M can be covered by subsets U ⊆M that can bemapped continuously into Rn

I if two ordered tuples (M, T(i))i∈I, (N, T(i))i∈I are related by adiffeomorphism φ, a C∞ bijective map, with induced map φ∗ thatrelates T(i) = φ∗T(i), they represent the same spacetime(diffeomorphism invariance)

I “[...] and so only the underlying topology and manifold structureremain constitutively a priori. [...] physical geometry (the metric ofphysical space) is no longer constitutive.” (Friedman, 1999, p. 66)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 19/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I how to tell what is being prescribed? Find invariants of the theoryunder a relevant group, G, of transformations (e.g. Friedman, 1999,p. 67)

I example:I in general relativity, spacetime is represented by an ordered tuple(M, T(i))i∈I, where M can be covered by subsets U ⊆M that can bemapped continuously into Rn

I if two ordered tuples (M, T(i))i∈I, (N, T(i))i∈I are related by adiffeomorphism φ, a C∞ bijective map, with induced map φ∗ thatrelates T(i) = φ∗T(i), they represent the same spacetime(diffeomorphism invariance)

I “[...] and so only the underlying topology and manifold structureremain constitutively a priori. [...] physical geometry (the metric ofphysical space) is no longer constitutive.” (Friedman, 1999, p. 66)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 19/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Physical Reality

I how to tell what is being prescribed? Find invariants of the theoryunder a relevant group, G, of transformations (e.g. Friedman, 1999,p. 67)

I example:I in general relativity, spacetime is represented by an ordered tuple(M, T(i))i∈I, where M can be covered by subsets U ⊆M that can bemapped continuously into Rn

I if two ordered tuples (M, T(i))i∈I, (N, T(i))i∈I are related by adiffeomorphism φ, a C∞ bijective map, with induced map φ∗ thatrelates T(i) = φ∗T(i), they represent the same spacetime(diffeomorphism invariance)

I “[...] and so only the underlying topology and manifold structureremain constitutively a priori. [...] physical geometry (the metric ofphysical space) is no longer constitutive.” (Friedman, 1999, p. 66)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 19/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objects (Mittelstaedt, 1995, 2009):I in non-relativistic QT: G10 7→

Uj

j∈JI projectors Pj that pertain to a system S describe its propertiesI but: non-commutativity no well-localized objects with

simultaneously well-defined momentaI object as the carrier of a ‘non-distributive lattice’ of Pi, in all

situations that can be constructed via the UjI generalization to (special) relativistic QT: Poincare group instead of

G10 (e.g. Streater, 1988, p. l44)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 20/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I point particles (Falkenburg, 2007, S. 134 ff.):I (differential) cross section, e.g.

dσdΩ ∝

cos2(θ2 )

sin6(θ2 )

[F2

1 −q2

4M2 [2(F1 + 2MF2)2 tan2(θ2 ) + (2MF2)

2]]

(Rosenbluth; cf. Drell and Zachariasen 1961, p. 8)I Fi = Fi(q2) come from | 〈pout|T|pin〉 |2I “a particle has [...] structure – i.e. is not a point particle – if and only

if the functions F1(q2) and/or F2(q2) are not constant.” (Drell andZachariasen, 1961, ibid.; emphasis mine)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 21/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I point particles (Falkenburg, 2007, S. 134 ff.):I (differential) cross section, e.g.

dσdΩ ∝

cos2(θ2 )

sin6(θ2 )

[F2

1 −q2

4M2 [2(F1 + 2MF2)2 tan2(θ2 ) + (2MF2)

2]]

(Rosenbluth; cf. Drell and Zachariasen 1961, p. 8)I Fi = Fi(q2) come from | 〈pout|T|pin〉 |2I “a particle has [...] structure – i.e. is not a point particle – if and only

if the functions F1(q2) and/or F2(q2) are not constant.” (Drell andZachariasen, 1961, ibid.; emphasis mine)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 21/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I point particles (Falkenburg, 2007, S. 134 ff.):I (differential) cross section, e.g.

dσdΩ ∝

cos2(θ2 )

sin6(θ2 )

[F2

1 −q2

4M2 [2(F1 + 2MF2)2 tan2(θ2 ) + (2MF2)

2]]

(Rosenbluth; cf. Drell and Zachariasen 1961, p. 8)I Fi = Fi(q2) come from | 〈pout|T|pin〉 |2I “a particle has [...] structure – i.e. is not a point particle – if and only

if the functions F1(q2) and/or F2(q2) are not constant.” (Drell andZachariasen, 1961, ibid.; emphasis mine)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 21/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I point particles (Falkenburg, 2007, S. 134 ff.):I (differential) cross section, e.g.

dσdΩ ∝

cos2(θ2 )

sin6(θ2 )

[F2

1 −q2

4M2 [2(F1 + 2MF2)2 tan2(θ2 ) + (2MF2)

2]]

(Rosenbluth; cf. Drell and Zachariasen 1961, p. 8)I Fi = Fi(q2) come from | 〈pout|T|pin〉 |2I “a particle has [...] structure – i.e. is not a point particle – if and only

if the functions F1(q2) and/or F2(q2) are not constant.” (Drell andZachariasen, 1961, ibid.; emphasis mine)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 21/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective properties of non-isolated objects:I TrE(ρSE) ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|

I S =∑

j aj |Sj〉〈Sj| , USES = SUSEI never perfectly applicable, but ‘quasi-classical’:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 22/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective properties of non-isolated objects:I TrE(ρSE) ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|

I S =∑

j aj |Sj〉〈Sj| , USES = SUSEI never perfectly applicable, but ‘quasi-classical’:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 22/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective properties of non-isolated objects:I TrE(ρSE) ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|

I S =∑

j aj |Sj〉〈Sj| , USES = SUSEI never perfectly applicable, but ‘quasi-classical’:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 22/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective properties of non-isolated objects:I TrE(ρSE) ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|

I S =∑

j aj |Sj〉〈Sj| , USES = SUSEI never perfectly applicable, but ‘quasi-classical’:

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 22/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective properties of non-isolated objects:I TrE(ρSE) ≈

∑j |αj|

2 |Sj〉〈Sj|

I S =∑

j aj |Sj〉〈Sj| , USES = SUSEI never perfectly applicable, but ‘quasi-classical’:

ψ

x

p

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 22/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective correlations:I Uθ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 = ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 (correlated, regardless of

axis of measurement)I |U( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 = |( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 (probability objective,

not just a degree of belief)I “Correlations have physical reality; that which they correlate does

not.” (Mermin, 1998, p. 753)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 23/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective correlations:I Uθ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 = ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 (correlated, regardless of

axis of measurement)I |U( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 = |( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 (probability objective,

not just a degree of belief)I “Correlations have physical reality; that which they correlate does

not.” (Mermin, 1998, p. 753)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 23/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective correlations:I Uθ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 = ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 (correlated, regardless of

axis of measurement)I |U( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 = |( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 (probability objective,

not just a degree of belief)I “Correlations have physical reality; that which they correlate does

not.” (Mermin, 1998, p. 753)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 23/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Constructing Quantum Reality

I objective correlations:I Uθ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 = ( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2 (correlated, regardless of

axis of measurement)I |U( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 = |( |↑↓〉− |↓↑〉)/

√2|2 (probability objective,

not just a degree of belief)I “Correlations have physical reality; that which they correlate does

not.” (Mermin, 1998, p. 753)

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 23/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Conclusions

I QT can be seen as a guide to expectationsI these expectations cannot easily be viewed as pertaining to the

‘true but unknown’ state λ of some systemI a(n empirical) reality needs to be constructed, by finding out what

the theory objectively prescribesI this may change over time (rotation invariance possibly violated

in q. gravity; cf. Portmann and Wuthrich 2007, p. 849)I correlations may constitute objective part of physical reality while

what is correlated (definitely valued spins etc.) may not

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 24/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Conclusions

I QT can be seen as a guide to expectationsI these expectations cannot easily be viewed as pertaining to the

‘true but unknown’ state λ of some systemI a(n empirical) reality needs to be constructed, by finding out what

the theory objectively prescribesI this may change over time (rotation invariance possibly violated

in q. gravity; cf. Portmann and Wuthrich 2007, p. 849)I correlations may constitute objective part of physical reality while

what is correlated (definitely valued spins etc.) may not

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 24/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Conclusions

I QT can be seen as a guide to expectationsI these expectations cannot easily be viewed as pertaining to the

‘true but unknown’ state λ of some systemI a(n empirical) reality needs to be constructed, by finding out what

the theory objectively prescribesI this may change over time (rotation invariance possibly violated

in q. gravity; cf. Portmann and Wuthrich 2007, p. 849)I correlations may constitute objective part of physical reality while

what is correlated (definitely valued spins etc.) may not

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 24/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Conclusions

I QT can be seen as a guide to expectationsI these expectations cannot easily be viewed as pertaining to the

‘true but unknown’ state λ of some systemI a(n empirical) reality needs to be constructed, by finding out what

the theory objectively prescribesI this may change over time (rotation invariance possibly violated

in q. gravity; cf. Portmann and Wuthrich 2007, p. 849)I correlations may constitute objective part of physical reality while

what is correlated (definitely valued spins etc.) may not

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 24/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Conclusions

I QT can be seen as a guide to expectationsI these expectations cannot easily be viewed as pertaining to the

‘true but unknown’ state λ of some systemI a(n empirical) reality needs to be constructed, by finding out what

the theory objectively prescribesI this may change over time (rotation invariance possibly violated

in q. gravity; cf. Portmann and Wuthrich 2007, p. 849)I correlations may constitute objective part of physical reality while

what is correlated (definitely valued spins etc.) may not

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 24/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

Thank you!

Invariants & Constitutive a priori in QT, F. Boge 25/30

QT in a Nutshell & the MPDecoherence

Human Knowledge?Constructing Reality

ConclusionsReferences

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Bohr, N. (1935). “Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of PhysicalReality be Considered Complete?”. Physical Review, 48:696–702.

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Dirac, P. A. M. (1958). The Principles of Quantum Mechanics. Oxford:Clarendon Press, fourth (revised) edition.

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Drell, S. and Zachariasen, F. (1961). Electromagnetic Structure ofNucleons. Oxford University Press.

Einstein, A. (1949). “Reply to criticism”. In Schilpp, P. A., editor, AlbertEinstein. Philosopher-Scientist, pages 665–688. New York: MJF Books.

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Harrigan, N. and Spekkens, R. W. (2010). “Einstein, Incompleteness,and the Epistemic View of Quantum States”. Foundations of Physics,40:125–157.

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Mittelstaedt, P. (2009). “Cognition versus Constitution of Objects:From Kant to Modern Physics”. Foundations of Physics, 39(7):847–859.

Portmann, S. and Wuthrich, A. (2007). “Minimal assumptionderivation of a weak Clauser-Horne inequality”. Studies in Historyand Philosophy of Modern Physics, 38:844–862.

Pusey, M. F., Barrett, J., and Rudolph, T. (2012). “On the reality of thequantum state”. Nature Physics, 8(6):475–478.

Putnam, H. (1975). “What Is ‘Realism’?”. In Proceedings of theAristotelian Society, volume 76, pages 177–194.

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