Consistent Sets Yield Contrary Inferences in Quantum Theory

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.2874· OSTI ID:490206

Kent, A ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW (United Kingdom)

In the consistent histories formulation of quantum theory, the probabilistic predictions and retrodictions made from observed data depend on the choice of a consistent set. We show that this freedom allows the formalism to retrodict contrary propositions which correspond to orthogonal commuting projections and which each have probability one. We also show that the formalism makes contrary probability one predictions when applied to Gell-Mann and Hartle{close_quote}s generalized time-neutral quantum mechanics. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 490206
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DENSITY MATRIX
HILBERT SPACE
PROBABILITY
PROJECTION OPERATORS
QUANTUM MECHANICS