Larc: a State Collapse Theory of Quantum Measurement

TL;DR

The paper introduces LARC, a relativistic quantum measurement theory where state reduction occurs probabilistically in the number operator basis triggered by creation and annihilation operators, explaining macroscopic localization.

Contribution

LARC is a novel state collapse theory based on operator triggers, providing a natural relativistic framework for quantum measurement and macroscopic localization.

Findings

Reduction occurs at a probabilistic rate $P_t$ per unit time.

Localization of macroscopic objects arises from photon absorption events.

The theory is inherently relativistic, unlike many existing models.

Abstract

This proposes a new theory of Quantum measurement; a state reduction theory in which reduction is to the elements of the number operator basis of a system, triggered by the occurrence of annihilation or creation (or lowering or raising) operators in the time evolution of a system. It is from these operator types that the acronym `LARC' is derived. Reduction does not occur immediately after the trigger event; it occurs at some later time with probability $P_t$ per unit time, where $P_t$ is very small. Localisation of macroscopic objects occurs in the natural way: photons from an illumination field are reflected off a body and later absorbed by another body. Each possible absorption of a photon by a molecule in the second body generates annihilation and raising operators, which in turn trigger a probability per unit time $P_t$ of a state reduction into the number operator basis for the photon field and the number operator basis of the electron orbitals of the molecule. Since all photons in the illumination field have come from the location of the first body, wherever that is, a single reduction leads to a reduction of the position state of the first body relative to the second, with a total probability of $m\tau_L$, where $m$ is the number of photon absorption events. Unusually for a reduction theory, the larc theory is naturally relativistic.