English

Classical Three-Box "paradox"

Quantum Physics 2009-11-07 v4

Abstract

A simple classical probabilistic system (a simple card game) classically exemplifies Aharonov and Vaidman's "Three-Box 'paradox'" [J. Phys. A 24, 2315 (1991)], implying that the Three-Box example is neither quantal nor a paradox and leaving one less difficulty to busy the interpreters of quantum mechanics. An ambiguity in the usual expression of the retrodiction formula is shown to have misled Albert, Aharonov, and D'Amato [Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 5 (1985)] to a result not, in fact, "curious"; the discussion illustrates how to avoid this ambiguity.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0207124,
  title  = {Classical Three-Box "paradox"},
  author = {K. A. Kirkpatrick},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0207124},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

10 pages. v4: As published, with corrections and updated references