English

Drift-Diffusion in Mangled Worlds Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Physics 2007-05-23 v2

Abstract

In Everett's many worlds interpretation, where quantum measurements are seen as decoherence events, inexact decoherence may let large worlds mangle the memories of observers in small worlds, creating a cutoff in observable world size. I solve a growth-drift-diffusion-absorption model of such a mangled worlds scenario, and show that it reproduces the Born probability rule closely, though not exactly. Thus deviations from exact decoherence can allow the Born rule to be derived in a many worlds approach via world counting, using a finite number of worlds and no new fundamental physics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0303114,
  title  = {Drift-Diffusion in Mangled Worlds Quantum Mechanics},
  author = {Robin Hanson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0303114},
  year   = {2007}
}