Quantum mechanics and the principle of maximal variety

TL;DR

This paper derives quantum mechanics from a principle of maximal variety, proposing a new interaction among similar subsystems that explains quantum phenomena and the measurement problem.

Contribution

It introduces a novel principle-based derivation of quantum mechanics, linking maximal variety to the emergence of the Schrödinger equation and resolving the measurement problem.

Findings

Quantum potential arises from maximizing variety among similar subsystems.

The Schrödinger equation naturally emerges from the proposed interaction.

Measurement problem is addressed by the ensemble interpretation of microscopic systems.

Abstract

Quantum mechanics is derived from the principle that the universe contain as much variety as possible, in the sense of maximizing the distinctiveness of each subsystem. The quantum state of a microscopic system is defined to correspond to an ensemble of subsystems of the universe with identical constituents and similar preparations and environments. A new kind of interaction is posited amongst such similar subsystems which acts to increase their distinctiveness, by extremizing the variety. In the limit of large numbers of similar subsystems this interaction is shown to give rise to Bohm's quantum potential. As a result the probability distribution for the ensemble is governed by the Schroedinger equation. The measurement problem is naturally and simply solved. Microscopic systems appear statistical because they are members of large ensembles of similar systems which interact non-locally. Macroscopic systems are unique, and are not members of any ensembles of similar systems. Consequently their collective coordinates may evolve deterministically. This proposal could be tested by constructing quantum devices from entangled states of a modest number of quits which, by its combinatorial complexity, can be expected to have no natural copies.