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A skepticism on the concept of quantum state related to quantum field theory on curved spacetime

arXiv
Authors: Hideyasu Yamashita

Year

2026

Paper ID

48993

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

238

Citations

N/A

Abstract

Some skeptical arguments on the physical reality of quantum states are given. First, I argue that the algebraic formalism of quantum field theory in curved spacetime (algebraic QFTCS, AQFTCS) leads to such a skepticism. Of course we have the purely mathematical notion of states on a C*-algebra mathfrak{A}, but usually in non-relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum field theory in Minkowski spacetime (QFTM), not all of them are considered to be physically real; Some of them are physically real (or realizable) states, but others are non-physical "fictional" states. Only the states which can be expressed as a density matrix on a fixed "physical Hilbert space" the GNS representation space of $mathfrak{A}$ w.r.t. the vacuum are viewed to be physically real. On the other hand, in QFTCS, there is no distinguished physical Hilbert space; no distinguished vacuum state. Thus we cannot distinguish physically real states from fictional states. The second part of my argument is a counterargument to what I call "pragmatic realism on quantum states", which insists as follows: "We are permitted to regard a quantum state as a physical reality, because the concept of quantum state is indispensable in quantum physics." I argue that the concept of quantum state is indeed dispensable in non-relativistic QM, and hence this pragmatic realist thesis is vacuous there. I give a conjecture that it is also dispensable in QFTM and QFTCS, and some preliminary considerations on it.

Why This Paper Matters

  • This paper contributes to the Entanglement Theory & Quantum Correlations research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
  • It adds a 2026 reference point for readers tracking recent quantum research.
  • Some skeptical arguments on the physical reality of quantum states are given.

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