Randomness: quantum versus classical

TL;DR

This paper reviews the concepts of classical and quantum randomness, explores their differences, and discusses interpretations of quantum mechanics emphasizing information theory and digital philosophy.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of classical and quantum randomness and discusses modern information-based interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Findings

Quantum randomness is fundamentally irreducible.

Classical and quantum randomness differ in origin and nature.

Information interpretation offers a unifying perspective on quantum mechanics.

Abstract

Recent tremendous development of quantum information theory led to a number of quantum technological projects, e.g., quantum random generators. This development stimulates a new wave of interest in quantum foundations. One of the most intriguing problems of quantum foundations is elaboration of a consistent and commonly accepted interpretation of quantum state. Closely related problem is clarification of the notion of quantum randomness and its interrelation with classical randomness. In this short review we shall discuss basics of classical theory of randomness (which by itself is very complex and characterized by diversity of approaches) and compare it with irreducible quantum randomness. The second part of this review is devoted to the information interpretation of quantum mechanics (QM) in the spirit of Zeilinger and Brukner (and QBism of Fuchs et al.) and physics in general (e.g., Wheeler's "it from bit") as well as digital philosophy of Chaitin (with historical coupling to ideas of Leibnitz). Finally, we continue discussion on interrelation of quantum and classical randomness and information interpretation of QM.