Decoherence Functional and Probability Interpretation

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the diagonal elements of the decoherence functional correspond to relative frequencies in experiments, confirming their interpretation in decoherence theory for both pure and mixed states.

Contribution

It establishes the probability interpretation of the decoherence functional's diagonal elements for both pure and mixed initial states.

Findings

Diagonal elements match relative frequencies in experiments

Validates probability interpretation of decoherence functional

Applies to both pure and mixed initial states

Abstract

We confirm that the diagonal elements of the Gell-Mann and Hartle's decoherence decoherence functional are equal to the relative frequencies of the results of many identical experiments, when a set of alternative histories decoheres. We consider both cases of the pure and mixed initial states.