Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields
We show that one may interpret physical reality as random fields in space-time. These have a probability given by the expectation of a coherent state projection operator, called the Q-function. The resulting dynamical evolution includes retrocausal effects. This suggests that a physical universe exi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033266 |
| _version_ | 1797211369939927040 |
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| author | Peter D. Drummond Margaret D. Reid |
| author_facet | Peter D. Drummond Margaret D. Reid |
| author_sort | Peter D. Drummond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We show that one may interpret physical reality as random fields in space-time. These have a probability given by the expectation of a coherent state projection operator, called the Q-function. The resulting dynamical evolution includes retrocausal effects. This suggests that a physical universe exists without requiring observers, but with a well-defined probability for its field configuration. By including the meter dynamics, we show that field trajectories have quantum measurement properties without wave-function collapse, including sharp measured eigenvalues. We treat continuous and discrete measurements and show that this model predicts Bell inequality violations for measurements on correlated spins. A discussion is give of a number of well-known quantum paradoxes, showing how these can be treated in a realistic model of measurement. Our theory resolves a number of practical and philosophical issues in quantum measurement, and we compare it with earlier theories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:25:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f07116ba49674b548e819490c6ed283c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:25:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f07116ba49674b548e819490c6ed283c2024-04-12T16:59:06ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-08-012303326610.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033266Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fieldsPeter D. DrummondMargaret D. ReidWe show that one may interpret physical reality as random fields in space-time. These have a probability given by the expectation of a coherent state projection operator, called the Q-function. The resulting dynamical evolution includes retrocausal effects. This suggests that a physical universe exists without requiring observers, but with a well-defined probability for its field configuration. By including the meter dynamics, we show that field trajectories have quantum measurement properties without wave-function collapse, including sharp measured eigenvalues. We treat continuous and discrete measurements and show that this model predicts Bell inequality violations for measurements on correlated spins. A discussion is give of a number of well-known quantum paradoxes, showing how these can be treated in a realistic model of measurement. Our theory resolves a number of practical and philosophical issues in quantum measurement, and we compare it with earlier theories.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033266 |
| spellingShingle | Peter D. Drummond Margaret D. Reid Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields Physical Review Research |
| title | Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| title_full | Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| title_fullStr | Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| title_short | Retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| title_sort | retrocausal model of reality for quantum fields |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033266 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterddrummond retrocausalmodelofrealityforquantumfields AT margaretdreid retrocausalmodelofrealityforquantumfields |