Epistemic Restrictions in Hilbert Space Quantum Mechanics

TL;DR

This paper explains how epistemic restrictions in Hilbert space quantum mechanics, derived from the consistent histories interpretation, clarify quantum measurement and relate to classical models with limited observer knowledge.

Contribution

It introduces a natural restriction on observer knowledge in quantum mechanics that aligns with quantum information theory and classical models with epistemic limitations.

Findings

Epistemic restrictions explain quantum measurement outcomes.

Classical models can exhibit quantum-like behavior under knowledge limitations.

The consistent histories interpretation provides a framework for understanding these restrictions.

Abstract

A resolution of the quantum measurement problem(s) using the consistent histories interpretation yields in a rather natural way a restriction on what an observer can know about a quantum system, one that is also consistent with some results in quantum information theory. This analysis provides a quantum mechanical understanding of some recent work that shows that certain kinds of quantum behavior are exhibited by a fully classical model if by hypothesis an observer's knowledge of its state is appropriately limited.