Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation

Objective collapse theories propose a solution to the quantum measurement problem by predicting deviations from Schrödinger's equation that can be tested experimentally. A class of objective theories based on spontaneous unitarity violation was recently introduced, in which the stochastic field...

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Main Author: Lotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van Wezel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SciPost 2024-03-01
Series:SciPost Physics Core
Online Access:https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysCore.7.1.012
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author Lotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van Wezel
author_facet Lotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van Wezel
author_sort Lotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van Wezel
collection DOAJ
description Objective collapse theories propose a solution to the quantum measurement problem by predicting deviations from Schrödinger's equation that can be tested experimentally. A class of objective theories based on spontaneous unitarity violation was recently introduced, in which the stochastic field required for obtaining Born's rule does not depend on the state of the system being measured. Here, we classify possible models for the stochastic field dynamics in theories of spontaneous unitarity violation. We show that for correlated stochastic dynamics, the field must be defined on a closed manifold. In two or more dimensions, it is then always possible to find stochastic dynamics yielding Born's rule, independent of the state being measured or the correlation time of the stochastic field. We show that the models defined this way are all isomorphic to the definition on a two-sphere, which we propose to be a minimal physical model for the stochastic field in models of spontaneous unitarity violation.
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spelling doaj.art-617b1bfe28d34d60bb13c0ada17585f32024-03-13T15:27:46ZengSciPostSciPost Physics Core2666-93662024-03-017101210.21468/SciPostPhysCore.7.1.012Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violationLotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van WezelObjective collapse theories propose a solution to the quantum measurement problem by predicting deviations from Schrödinger's equation that can be tested experimentally. A class of objective theories based on spontaneous unitarity violation was recently introduced, in which the stochastic field required for obtaining Born's rule does not depend on the state of the system being measured. Here, we classify possible models for the stochastic field dynamics in theories of spontaneous unitarity violation. We show that for correlated stochastic dynamics, the field must be defined on a closed manifold. In two or more dimensions, it is then always possible to find stochastic dynamics yielding Born's rule, independent of the state being measured or the correlation time of the stochastic field. We show that the models defined this way are all isomorphic to the definition on a two-sphere, which we propose to be a minimal physical model for the stochastic field in models of spontaneous unitarity violation.https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysCore.7.1.012
spellingShingle Lotte Mertens, Matthijs Wesseling, Jasper van Wezel
Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
SciPost Physics Core
title Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
title_full Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
title_fullStr Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
title_full_unstemmed Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
title_short Stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
title_sort stochastic field dynamics in models of spontaneous unitarity violation
url https://scipost.org/SciPostPhysCore.7.1.012
work_keys_str_mv AT lottemertensmatthijswesselingjaspervanwezel stochasticfielddynamicsinmodelsofspontaneousunitarityviolation