Reformulating and reconstructing quantum theory

重新表述和重建量子理论

• 批准号: 261449-2012
• 负责人: Hardy, Lucien
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525231
• 关键词: Reformulating; reconstructing; quantum; theory

Quantum theory is a deeply fascinating theory challenging our common intuitions about the world round us. However, it is usually formulated in terms of rather mathematically obtuse axioms. Where do these axioms come from? Can we under stand quantum theory in terms of some simpler set of natural postulates? Further, the usual way of formulating quantum theory is in terms of a state across space evolving in time. This goes against the spirit of Einstein's theories of special and general relativity in which space and time are unified. I have shown how quantum theory can be formulated in a way that is more sympathetic to a point of view in which space and time are unified. In this case, rather than having a state across space at a given time, we have something like a state associated with a general region of space time. In fact, we consider the circuit analogue of this - namely general fragments of circuits. This different point of view may be helpful when we come to try to build a theory of quantum gravity (which would unify Einstein's theory of gravity with quantum theory). However, there are many things to understand in the meantime. In particular, we do not have a very good understanding of what types of states can be associated with general regions. Understanding this would allow us to have a much deeper idea of what this deeper formulation of quantum theory is about. Further, it would be good to have some natural postulates for quantum theory that respect this space time point of view. Then we would have a good launching point to go from a space time friendly understanding of quantum theory to a theory of quantum gravity.

量子理论是一个极具吸引力的理论，它挑战着我们对周围世界的普遍直觉。然而，它通常是用数学上相当迟钝的公理来表述的。 这些公理从何而来？我们能用一些更简单的自然公设来理解量子理论吗？ 此外，表述量子理论的通常方式是用随时间演化的空间状态来表述。 这违背了爱因斯坦的狭义相对论和广义相对论的精神，在狭义相对论和广义相对论中，空间和时间是统一的。 我已经展示了量子理论是如何以一种更符合时空统一的观点的方式来表述的。 在这种情况下，不是在给定的时间有一个跨越空间的状态，而是有一个与时空的一般区域相关联的状态。 事实上，我们认为这是电路模拟-即电路的一般片段。 当我们试图建立量子引力理论（这将统一爱因斯坦的引力理论和量子理论）时，这种不同的观点可能会有所帮助。然而，在此期间有许多事情需要了解。 特别是，我们对什么类型的国家可以与一般区域相关联没有很好的理解。 理解这一点将使我们对量子理论的更深层次的表述有更深的理解。 此外，如果量子理论有一些自然的假设，尊重时空的观点，那将是很好的。 这样我们就有了一个很好的起点，从对时空友好的量子理论理解到量子引力理论。