Quantum Statistical Mechanics. I. Decoherence, Wave Function Collapse, and the von Neumann Density Matrix

TL;DR

This paper derives the probability operator from first principles in equilibrium quantum systems, explaining wave function collapse as a consequence of conservation laws and entanglement, with implications for decoherence and the measurement problem.

Contribution

It provides a fundamental derivation of the probability operator and explains wave function collapse through conservation laws and entanglement, linking to decoherence and classicality.

Findings

Collapse results from conservation laws and entanglement.

Superposition states become mixtures in equilibrium.

Relevance to decoherence and measurement problem.

Abstract

The probability operator is derived from first principles for an equilibrium quantum system. It is also shown that the superposition states collapse into a mixture of states giving the conventional von Neumann trace form for the quantum average. The mechanism for the collapse is found to be quite general: it results from the conservation law for a conserved, exchangeable variable (such as energy) and the entanglement of the total system wave function that necessarily follows. The relevance of the present results to the einselection mechanism for decoherence, to the quantum measurement problem, and to the classical nature of the macroscopic world are discussed.