English

Ambiguity, Invisibility, and Negativity

Quantum Physics 2023-09-12 v1 Classical Physics Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability

Abstract

Many widely different problems have a common mathematical structure wherein limited knowledge lead to ambiguity that can be captured conveniently using a concept of invisibility that requires the introduction of negative values for quantities that are inherently positive. Here I analyze three examples taken from perception theory, rigid body mechanics, and quantum measurement.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2309.04882,
  title  = {Ambiguity, Invisibility, and Negativity},
  author = {Frank Wilczek},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2309.04882},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

9 pages, no figures. Contribution to Stanley Deser memoria{\l} volume "Gravity, Strings and Beyond"

R2 v1 2026-06-28T12:17:09.613Z