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Open Quantum Systems Decoherence

Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics

arXiv
Authors: Gabriele Carcassi, Manuele Landini, Christine A. Aidala

Year

2024

Paper ID

37330

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

124

Citations

N/A

Abstract

We show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics. That is, the high entropy masks quantum effects, and mixed states of high enough entropy can be approximated with classical distributions. The mathematical limit hbar → 0 can be reinterpreted as setting the zero entropy of pure states to -infty, in the same way that non-relativistic mechanics can be recovered mathematically with c → infty. Physically, these limits are more appropriately defined as S gg 0 and v ll c. Both limits can then be understood as approximations independently of what circumstances allow those approximations to be valid. Consequently, the limit presented is independent of possible underlying mechanisms and of what interpretation is chosen for both quantum states and entropy.

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  • This paper contributes to the Open Quantum Systems & Decoherence research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
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  • We show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics.

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