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Quantum Simulation Entanglement Theory Quantum Correlations Open Quantum Systems Decoherence

Discerning "indistinguishable" quantum systems

arXiv

Authors: Adam Caulton

Year

2014

Paper ID

47803

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

110

Citations

N/A

Abstract

In a series of recent papers, Simon Saunders, Fred Muller and Michael Seevinck have collectively argued, against the philosophy of quantum mechanics folklore, that some non-trivial version of Leibniz's principle of the identity of indiscernibles is upheld in quantum mechanics. They argue that all particles - fermions, paraparticles, anyons, even bosons - may be weakly discerned by some physical relation. Here I show that their arguments make illegitimate appeal to non-symmetric, i.e. permutation-non-invariant, quantities, and that therefore their conclusions do not go through. However, I show that alternative, symmetric quantities may be found to do the required work. I conclude that the Saunders-Muller-Seevinck heterodoxy can be saved after all.

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This paper contributes to the Quantum Simulation research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
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In a series of recent papers, Simon Saunders, Fred Muller and Michael Seevinck have collectively argued, against the philosophy of quantum mechanics folklore, that some...

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References & Citation Signals

[1] DOI https://doi.org/arXiv:1409.0249 [2] arXiv https://arxiv.org/abs/1409.0249 [3] Publisher https://arxiv.org/abs/1409.0249

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