A formal proof of the Born rule from decision-theoretic assumptions
Quantum Physics
2009-06-16 v1
Abstract
I develop the decision-theoretic approach to quantum probability, originally proposed by David Deutsch, into a mathematically rigorous proof of the Born rule in (Everett-interpreted) quantum mechanics. I sketch the argument informally, then prove it formally, and lastly consider a number of proposed ``counter-examples'' to show exactly which premises of the argument they violate.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0906.2718,
title = {A formal proof of the Born rule from decision-theoretic assumptions},
author = {David Wallace},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0906.2718},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
36 pages. To appear (under the title "How to prove the Born rule") in Saunders, Barrett, Kent and Wallace, "Many Worlds? Everett, Quantum Theory, and Reality" (Oxford University Press)