Quasiclassical Dynamics in a Closed Quantum System

TL;DR

This paper examines the implications of the consistent histories approach in quantum cosmology, highlighting that observed quasiclassical structures do not necessarily follow classical or Copenhagen quantum mechanics predictions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that assuming persistent quasiclassical structures does not guarantee classical or Copenhagen quantum mechanics behavior within the consistent histories framework.

Findings

Quasiclassical structures may not obey classical mechanics.

Observed quasiclassical structures do not imply classical quantum mechanics.

The interpretation affects the predicted behavior of quantum cosmological systems.

Abstract

We consider Gell-Mann and Hartle's consistent histories formulation of quantum cosmology in the interpretation in which one history, chosen randomly according to the decoherence functional probabilities, is realised from each consistent set. We show that in this interpretation, if one assumes that an observed quasiclassical structure will continue to be quasiclassical, one cannot infer that it will obey the predictions of classical or Copenhagen quantum mechanics.