Scan Quantum Mechanics: Quantum Inertia Stops Superposition

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new interpretation of quantum superposition where systems rapidly switch among states, with quantum inertia determining the transition to classical behavior, impacting phenomena like entanglement and potentially explaining astrophysical emissions.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of quantum inertia that halts superpositions at a critical value, offering a reversible transition between quantum and classical regimes and suggesting new experimental and astrophysical implications.

Findings

Quantum inertia increases with added constituents or interactions.

Superposition ends when quantum inertia reaches a critical value.

A new radiation mechanism in strong gravitational fields is proposed.

Abstract

A novel interpretation of the quantum mechanical superposition is put forward. Quantum systems scan all possible available states and switch randomly and very rapidly among them. The longer they remain in a given state, the larger the probability of the system to be found in that state during a measurement. A crucial property that we postulate is quantum inertia, that increases whenever a constituent is added, or the system is perturbed with all kinds of interactions. Once the quantum inertia $I_q$ reaches a critical value $I_{cr}$ for an observable, the switching among the different eigenvalues of that observable stops and the corresponding superposition comes to an end. Consequently, increasing the mass, temperature, gravitational force, etc. of a quantum system increases its quantum inertia until the superposition of states disappears for all the observables and the system transmutes into a classical one. The process could be reversible: decreasing the size, temperature, gravitational force, etc. of a classical system one could revert the situation. Entanglement can only occur between quantum systems, not between a quantum system and a classical one, because an exact synchronization between the switchings of the systems involved must be established in the first place and classical systems do not have any switchings to start with. Future experiments might determine the critical inertia $I_{cr}$ corresponding to different observables. In addition, our proposal implies a new radiation mechanism in strong gravitational fields, giving rise to non-thermal synchrotron emission, that could contribute to neutron star formation. Superconductivity, superfluidity, Bose-Einstein condensates, and any other physical phenomena at very low temperatures must be reanalyzed in the light of this interpretation, as well as mesoscopic systems in general.