Survey of an approach to quantum measurement, classical properties and realist interpretation problems

TL;DR

This survey reviews a new realist interpretation of quantum mechanics, introduces classical states as maximum-entropy quantum objects, and proposes a solution to the quantum measurement problem by redefining the process of separation status changes.

Contribution

It presents a self-consistent, complete quantum theory with a novel realist interpretation and a modified measurement framework addressing the measurement problem.

Findings

Objective properties of quantum systems can be identified outside of observables.

Classical states are modeled as maximum-entropy packets approximating classical dynamics.

A modified measurement model satisfies probability and objectification requirements.

Abstract

The paper gives a systematic review of the basic ideas of (non-relativistic) quantum mechanics including all changes that result from previous work of the authors. This shows that the new theory is self-consistent and (in certain sense) complete. The most important changes are: 1) A new realist interpretation of quantum mechanics based on the observation that there are enough objective properties of quantum systems if one looks for them elsewhere than among values of observables. This enables us to introduce the notion of quantum object. 2) Classical systems are defined as macroscopic quantum objects in states close to maximum entropy. For classical mechanics, new states of such kind are introduced, the so-called maximum-entropy packets, and shown to approximate classical dynamics better than Gaussian wave packets. 3) A new solution of quantum measurement problem is proposed for measurements that are performed on microsystems. First, it is assumed that readings of registration apparatuses are always signals from detectors. This implies restrictions on what is observable. Second, an application of the cluster separability principle leads to the key notion of the paper: the separation status of microsystems. The processes of preparation and registration include changes of separation status. A crucial observation is that standard quantum mechanics does not prescribe the evolution during such changes. This gap can be filled by new rules without contradicting the rest of quantum mechanics. As an example of such a new rule, Beltrametti-Cassinelli-Lahti model of measurement is modified and shown then to satisfy both the probability-reproducibility and the objectification requirements.