Action Duality: A Constructive Principle for Quantum Foundations

TL;DR

This paper proposes the principle of action duality in quantum theory, suggesting experiments with the same classical action have dual ontological descriptions, which constrains interpretations and supports retrocausal views.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of action duality as a constructive principle linking experiments with identical classical actions to their ontological models.

Findings

Two pairs of action-dual experiments are presented.

One experiment violating Bell inequality is shown to be action-dual to a single particle.

Results support retrodictive and retrocausal interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Abstract

An analysis of the path-integral approach to quantum theory motivates the hypothesis that two experiments with the same classical action should have dual ontological descriptions. If correct, this hypothesis would not only constrain realistic interpretations of quantum theory, but would also act as a constructive principle, allowing any realistic model of one experiment to generate a corresponding model for its action-dual. Two pairs of action-dual experiments are presented, including one experiment that violates the Bell inequality and yet is action-dual to a single particle. The implications generally support retrodictive and retrocausal interpretations.