Decoherence as an inherent characteristic of quantum mechanics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that decoherence is an inherent feature of quantum mechanics, arising from the uncertainty principle, and can explain measurement processes without additional postulates.

Contribution

It introduces a theory where decoherence occurs intrinsically within quantum mechanics, prior to measurement, without relying on environment-induced effects.

Findings

Decoherence explains measurement without extra postulates

Uncertainty relation causes pre-measurement decoherence

Quantum correlations do not require wave function collapse

Abstract

We show that it is possible to explain the quantum measurement process within the framework of quantum mechanics without any additional postulates. The key concept of the theory is decoherence, which appears as an inherent characteristic of quantum mechanics and results from the uncertainty relation. In contrast to environment-induced decoherence, this decoherence exists prior to a measurement being made. To clarify our idea, we examine three elemental experiments: a Stern-Gerlach-like experiment, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm (EPR-Bohm) experiment, and the double-slit experiment. By considering the first experiment, we explain how the uncertainty relation between position and momentum introduces decoherence prior to measurement. Consideration of the EPR-Bohm experiment leads us to conclude that the correlation of the EPR pair is not a consequence of what is known as the collapse of the wave function. Our theory of decoherence can also be applied to experiments with continuous eigenvalues, such as the double-slit experiment. Consideration of the double-slit experiment leads us to understand how pure quantum mechanics describes the fact that quanta behave as interfering particles.