Q-functions as models of physical reality
Abstract
We show that one may interpret physical reality as random fields in space-time. These have a probability given by the expectation of a coherent state projection operator, called the Q-function. The resulting dynamical evolution includes retrocausal effects. This suggests that a physical universe exists without requiring observers, but with a well-defined probability for its field configuration. By including the meter dynamics, we show that field trajectories have quantum measurement properties without wave-function collapse, including sharp measured eigenvalues. We treat continuous and discrete measurements, and show that this model predicts Bell inequality violations for measurements on correlated spins. A discussion is give of a number of well-known quantum paradoxes, showing how these can be treated in a realistic model of measurement. Our theory resolves a number of practical and philosophical issues in quantum measurement, and we compare it with earlier theories.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1909.01798,
title = {Q-functions as models of physical reality},
author = {Peter D. Drummond and Margaret D. Reid},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1909.01798},
year = {2020}
}
Comments
Second version, corrected and expanded, published in Phys. Rev. Research