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Conceptual Inadequacy of the Shannon Information in Quantum Measurements

Quantum Physics 2009-02-05 v3

Abstract

In a classical measurement the Shannon information is a natural measure of our ignorance about properties of a system. There, observation removes that ignorance in revealing properties of the system which can be considered to preexist prior to and independent of observation. Because of the completely different root of a quantum measurement as compared to a classical measurement conceptual difficulties arise when we try to define the information gain in a quantum measurement using the notion of Shannon information. The reason is that, in contrast to classical measurement, quantum measurement, with very few exceptions, cannot be claimed to reveal a property of the individual quantum system existing before the measurement is performed.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0006087,
  title  = {Conceptual Inadequacy of the Shannon Information in Quantum Measurements},
  author = {Caslav Brukner and Anton Zeilinger},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0006087},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

11 pages, 5 figures, important Ref. [6] is now cited in all appropriate places