The Born rule in a timeless universe

TL;DR

This paper explores how the Born rule and probability interpretation emerge in a timeless universe by analyzing CPT invariance and time-reversed histories within the Page and Wootters framework, proposing that probability is an emergent quantum property.

Contribution

It demonstrates that time-reversed histories are consistent with the Page and Wootters mechanism and derives a time-reversed Schrödinger equation, suggesting probability is emergent in quantum cosmology.

Findings

Time-reversed histories are compatible with the Page and Wootters mechanism.

A time-reversed Schrödinger equation for the universe is derived.

Probability interpretation emerges from the quantum state conditioning.

Abstract

In canonical quantization of gravity the wave function of the universe is CPT invariant. Thus, if the quantum state of the universe contains a particular history, than it must contain, with the same probability, the time-reversed image of that history as well. In this work, we investigate the meaning of this statement in the context of the conditional probability interpretation of Page and Wootters. Accordingly, we show that a time-reversed history of the universe is consistent with the Page and Wootters mechanism and we derive a time-reversed Schrodinger equation for the evolution of the rest of the universe. Since the same particular quantum state is acquired both in an individual history with time running forward and in its time-reversed image history, we demonstrate that conditioning the state of the universe on the hands of the clock showing a specific time results in the probability of finding the rest of the universe system in a particular state. In this scenario, we conjecture that probability interpretation is an emergent property of the quantum world.