The Weak Reality That Makes Quantum Phenomena More Natural: Novel Insights and Experiments

Abstract

While quantum reality can be probed through measurements, the Two-State-Vector formalism (TSVF) reveals a subtler reality prevailing between measurements. Under special pre-and postselections, odd physical values emerge. This unusual picture calls for a deeper study. Instead of the common, wave-based picture of quantum mechanics, we suggest a new, particle-based perspective: Each particle possesses a definite location throughout its evolution, while some of its physical variables (characterized by deterministic operators, some of which obey nonlocal equations of motion) are carried by "mirage particles" accounting for its unique behavior. Within the time-interval between pre-and post-selection, the particle gives rise to a horde of such mirage particles, of which some can be negative. What appears to be "no-particle," known to give rise to Interaction-Free Measurement, is in fact a self-canceling pair of positive and negative mirage particles, which can be momentarily split and cancel out again. Feasible experiments can give empirical evidence for these fleeting phenomena. In this respect, the Heisenberg ontology is shown to be conceptually advantageous compared to the Schrödinger picture. We review several recent advances, discuss their foundational significance and point out possible directions for future research.

Some Notes on Counterfactuals in Quantum Mechanics

“…Having pointed out this subtle type of interaction, we were able to show its heuristic power as underlying many quantum oddities considered unrelated so far [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. These include, e.g., IFM, the Aharonov–Bohm effect (in the sense of temporary entanglement between the electron and solenoid [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]), the quantum Zeno effect (based on a dense sequence of counterfactuals followed by “forgetfulness” and re-initialization of the state), and, obviously, quantum erasure.…”

“…Only one party “remembers” the interaction through momentum change, while the other remains oblivious. The apparent violation of Newton’s third law is resolved by the uncertainty principle, yet the resolution is highly nontrivial, leading to several new questions and applications [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

“…To the familiar forward-evolving wavefunction, TSVF adds a complementary backward-evolving wavefunction [ 4 ]. Their combination reveals a much richer quantum reality, based on the notion of weak values [ 22 , 32 ], as follows.…”

Weak Values and Two-State Vector Formalism in Elementary Scattering and Reflectivity—A New Effect

“…The momentum of the mirror acts as a so-called pointer variable (no kick: the photon is in arm A; kick: the photon is in arm B). However, since the photon can only change the momentum of the mirror (pointer) by far less than its spread, we are in the so-called "weak measurement" regime, [2][3][4][5][6].…”

“…Furthermore, the fundamental time-inversion symmetry of the Schrödinger equation was shown to be a crucial feature in the novel theory of Weak Values (WV) and the Two-State Vector Formalism (TSVF) of Aharonov and collaborators; cf. [2][3][4][5][6][7] and references therein. Based on this theory, new experiments were suggested and several novel quantum effects were discovered; cf.…”