Entropic Dynamics and the Quantum Measurement Problem

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quantum measurement problem within the entropic dynamics framework, showing how both continuous evolution and wave function collapse are unified as entropic updates of probabilities, with particles having definite positions.

Contribution

It presents a unified entropic dynamics approach that explains quantum measurement and the Born rule without attributing physical attributes to observables, emphasizing probability updates.

Findings

Wave function collapse and unitary evolution are unified as entropic updates.

Particles have definite positions, not created by measurement.

The Born rule for position is naturally incorporated.

Abstract

We explore the measurement problem in the entropic dynamics approach to quantum theory. The dual modes of quantum evolution---either continuous unitary evolution or abrupt wave function collapse during measurement---are unified by virtue of both being special instances of entropic updating of probabilities. In entropic dynamics particles have definite but unknown positions; their values are not created by the act of measurement. Other types of observables are introduced as a convenient way to describe more complex position measurements; they are not attributes of the particles but of the probability distributions; their values are effectively created by the act of measurement. We discuss the Born statistical rule for position, which is trivially built into the formalism, and also for generic observables.