A Flea on Schroedinger's Cat
Klaas Landsman, Robin Reuvers

TL;DR
This paper presents a mathematical reformulation of the quantum measurement problem, showing that tiny perturbations in a double-well system can cause wave function collapse, potentially resolving measurement issues within standard quantum theory.
Contribution
It introduces a new perspective on the measurement problem by linking ground state instability in double-well Hamiltonians to wave function collapse, avoiding modifications to quantum mechanics.
Findings
Tiny perturbations can cause wave function collapse in the classical limit.
Numerical simulations demonstrate adiabatic perturbations lead to collapse.
The approach combines virtues of decoherence and dynamical collapse models without their drawbacks.
Abstract
We propose a technical reformulation of the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, which is based on the postulate that the final state of a measurement is classical. Unlike the usual formulation (in which the post-measurement state is a unit vector in Hilbert space), our version actually opens the possibility of admitting a purely technical solution within the confines of conventional quantum theory (as opposed to solutions that either modify this theory, or introduce unusual and controversial interpretative rules and/or ontologies). To that effect, we recall a remarkable phenomenon in the theory of Schroedinger operators (discovered in 1981 by Jona-Lasinio et al), according to which the ground state of a symmetric double-well Hamiltonian becomes exponentially sensitive to tiny perturbations of the potential as h -> 0. We show that this instability emerges also from the textbook WKB…
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Taxonomy
TopicsQuantum Mechanics and Applications · Philosophy and History of Science · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
