A strict epistemic approach to physics

Östborn, Per

doi:10.48550/arxiv.1601.00680

Cited by 2 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…What about elementary bosons? In the present approach to physics they are not seen as objects or quasiobjects, but rather as bookkeeping devices used to keep track of interactions between such objects or quasiobjects [23]. Therefore elementary bosons can never be treated as a specimen in an experimental context C, and therefore the Dirac equation does not apply.…”

Section: Some Basic Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution equations from an epistemic treatment of time

Östborn

2018

Preprint

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Relativistically, time t may be seen as an observable, just like position r. In quantum theory, t is a parameter, in contrast to the observable r. This discrepancy suggests that there exists a more elaborate formalization of time, which encapsulates both perspectives. Such a formalization is proposed in this paper. The evolution is described in terms of sequential time n ∈ N, which is updated each time an event occurs. Sequential time n is separated from relational time t, which describes distances between events in space-time. There is a space-time associated with each n, in which t represents the knowledge at time n about temporal relations. The evolution of the wave function is described in terms of the parameter σ that interpolates between sequential times n. For a free object we obtain a Stueckelberg equation d dσ Ψ(r 4 , σ ) = ic 2 h 2 ε ✷Ψ(r 4 , σ ), where r 4 = (r, ict). Here σ describes the time m passed from the start of the experiment at time n and the observation at time n + m. The parametrization is assumed to be natural in the sense that d dσ t = 1, where t is the expected temporal distance between the events that define n and n + m. The squared rest energy ε 2 0 is proportional to the eigenvalue σ that describes a stationary state Ψ(r 4 , σ ) = ψ(r 4 , σ )e i σ σ . The Dirac equation follows as a square root of the stationary state equation from the condition σ > 0, which is a consequence of the directed nature of n. The formalism thus implies that all observable objects have non-zero rest mass, including elementary fermions. The introduction of n releases t, so that it can be treated as an observable with uncertainty ∆t.

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Section: Some Basic Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The value of Pr defines the object state S OO together with the values of an array of other properties, such as charge and position [7,23]. Properties may be internal or relational.…”

Section: Sequential and Relational Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution equations from an epistemic treatment of time

Östborn

2018

Preprint

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“…The relation between the two aspects of time is discussed at length in Ref. [20]. We will also avoid explicit reference to r, aiming here at a general discussion about attributes A i and the observation of their values.…”

Section: Fig 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead we have to compare the volumes of different states. Such a relative volume specification will be sufficient in our treatment of probability, and can also be used to make the concept of entropy epistemically well-defined [20].…”

Section: G a Measure On State Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The advantage of this reverse approach is that the conceptually well-defined starting point enables a better understanding of the components of the formalism, and its domain of validity. Another advantage is that it makes it possible to understand better not only the meaning of quantum mechanics, but also some other physical concepts and principles, such as Pauli's exclusion principle, the gauge principle and entropy [20].…”

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Quantum mechanics from an epistemic state space

Östborn

2017

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We derive the Hilbert space formalism of quantum mechanics from epistemic principles. A key assumption is that a physical theory that relies on entities or distinctions that are unknowable in principle gives rise to wrong predictions. An epistemic formalism is developed, where concepts like individual and collective knowledge are used, and knowledge may be actual or potential. The physical state S corresponds to the collective potential knowledge. The state S is a subset of a state space S = {Z}, such that S always contains several elements Z, which correspond to unattainable states of complete potential knowledge of the world. The evolution of S cannot be determined in terms of the individual evolution of the elements Z, unlike the evolution of an ensemble in classical phase space. The evolution of S is described in terms of sequential time n ∈ N, which is updated according to n → n + 1 each time potential knowledge changes. In certain experimental contexts C, there is knowledge at the start of the experiment at time n that a given series of properties P, P , . . . will be observed within a given time frame, meaning that a series of values p, p , . . . of these properties will become known. At time n, it is just known that these values belong to predefined, finite sets {p}, {p }, . . .. In such a context C, it is possible to define a complex Hilbert space H C on top of S , in which the elements are contextual state vectors SC . Born's rule to calculate the probabilities to find the values p, p , . . . is derived as the only generally applicable such rule. Also, we can associate a self-adjoint operator P with eigenvalues {p} to each property P observed within C. These operators obey [ P, P ] = 0 if and only if the precise values of P and P are simultaneoulsy knowable. The existence of properties whose precise values are not simulataneously knowable follows from the hypothesis that collective potential knowledge is always incomplete, corresponding to the abovementioned statement that S always contains several elements Z.

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A strict epistemic approach to physics

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Evolution equations from an epistemic treatment of time

Evolution equations from an epistemic treatment of time

Quantum mechanics from an epistemic state space

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