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Open Quantum Systems Decoherence
The arrow of time in operational formulations of quantum theory
arXiv
Authors: Andrea Di Biagio, Pietro Donà, Carlo Rovelli
Year
2020
Paper ID
20025
Status
Preprint
Abstract Read
~2 min
Abstract Words
99
Citations
N/A
Abstract
The operational formulations of quantum theory are drastically time oriented. However, to the best of our knowledge, microscopic physics is time-symmetric. We address this tension by showing that the asymmetry of the operational formulations does not reflect a fundamental time-orientation of physics. Instead, it stems from built-in assumptions about the users of the theory. In particular, these formalisms are designed for predicting the future based on information about the past, and the main mathematical objects contain implicit assumption about the past, but not about the future. The main asymmetry in quantum theory is the difference between knowns and unknowns.
Why This Paper Matters
- This paper contributes to the Open Quantum Systems & Decoherence research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
- It adds a 2020 reference point for readers tracking recent quantum research.
- The operational formulations of quantum theory are drastically time oriented.
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