Quantum mechanics, non-locality, and the space discreteness hypothesis

TL;DR

This paper explores a model of quantum mechanics on a discretized space, proposing a non-local framework that challenges relativity and offers a new wavefunction collapse mechanism, with applications to the measurement problem and two-slit experiment.

Contribution

It introduces a non-local quantum mechanics model on a totally disconnected space, providing a novel wavefunction collapse mechanism and analyzing implications for measurement and interference phenomena.

Findings

Quantum mechanics on a disconnected space is inherently non-local.

The proposed collapse mechanism maintains Schrödinger dynamics during measurement.

The model explains bright and dark states in the two-slit experiment.

Abstract

The space discreteness hypothesis asserts that the nature of space at short distances is radically different from that at large distances. Based on the Bronstein inequality, here, we use a totally disconnected topological space $\mathcal{X}$ as a model for the space. However, we consider the time as a real variable. In this framework, the formalism of Dirac-von Neumann can be used. This discreteness hypothesis implies that given two different points in space, there is no continuous curve (a world line) joining them. Consequently, this hypothesis is not compatible with the theory of relativity. We propose $\mathbb{R}\times(\mathbb{R}\times\mathcal{X})^{3}$ as a model of a space-time. For simplicity, we work out our models using $\mathbb{R}\times(\mathbb{R}\times\mathcal{X})$ as the configuration space. Quantum mechanics (QM), in the sense of Dirac-von Neumann, on the Hilbert space $L^{2}(\mathbb{R}\times\mathcal{X})$ is a non-local theory: the Hamiltonians are non-local operators, and thus, spooky action at a distance is allowed. The paradigm asserting that the universe is non-locally real implies that the proposed version of QM admits realism. This version of QM can be specialized to standard QM by using Hamiltonians acting on wavefunctions supported on the region $\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{R}$. We apply the developed formalism to the measurement problem. We propose a new mechanism for the collapse of the wavefunction. The mechanism resembles the one proposed by Ghirardi, Ramini, and Weber, but there are significant differences. The most important feature is that the Schr\"{o}dinger equation describes the dynamics at all times, even at the moment of measurement. We also discuss a model for the two-slit experiment, where bright and dark states of light (proposed recently) naturally occur.