Decompositional equivalence: A fundamental symmetry underlying quantum theory
Quantum Physics
2016-11-10 v6
Abstract
Decompositional equivalence is the principle that there is no preferred decomposition of the universe into subsystems. It is shown here, by using simple thought experiments, that quantum theory follows from decompositional equivalence together with Landauer's principle. This demonstration raises within physics a question previously left to psychology: how do human - or any - observers agree about what constitutes a "system of interest"?
Cite
@article{arxiv.1402.6629,
title = {Decompositional equivalence: A fundamental symmetry underlying quantum theory},
author = {Chris Fields},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.6629},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
36 pages, 3 figures; accepted version