Entangled Histories
Abstract
We introduce quantum history states and their mathematical framework, thereby reinterpreting and extending the consistent histories approach to quantum theory. Through thought experiments, we demonstrate that our formalism allows us to analyze a quantum version of history in which we reconstruct the past by observations. In particular, we can pass from measurements to inferences about "what happened" in a way that is sensible and free of paradox. Our framework allows for a richer understanding of the temporal structure of quantum theory, and we construct history states that embody peculiar, non-classical correlations in time.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1502.02480,
title = {Entangled Histories},
author = {Jordan Cotler and Frank Wilczek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.02480},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
16 pages, 1 figure. v2: typo corrected, minor stylistic changes. v3: minor stylistic changes, final version for publication in Nobel Symposium NS 156