Quantum Foundations in the Light of Quantum Information

如何理解量子系统的非经典概率行为的问题是爱因斯坦和玻尔之间一个未解决的争论的主题。他们对立的哲学观点之间的对立为物理学家和物理学哲学家之间关于从经典力学到量子力学过渡的概念意义的持续辩论提供了紧张关系，集中在理论基础中的测量问题上。20世纪90年代见证了量子信息理论的发展，这是由于人们意识到量子系统的某些非经典特征可以被利用来执行在牛顿世界中不可能完成的信息处理任务。这导致了对量子计算和量子密码学的理论和实际应用的兴趣激增，并重新考虑了玻尔-爱因斯坦债务的基本问题。智力价值：PI最近发表了一些关于这些问题的论文，特别是一篇论文（与Rob Clifton和Hans Halvorson共同撰写），表明人们可以从三个信息论约束中推导出物理系统的量子理论描述的基本特征。该研究项目包括根据克利夫顿-布布-哈尔沃森结果，制定量子力学的信息理论解释的细节。其核心特征是将度量问题拆分为真值问题和概率问题，并将真值问题搁置一边。pi对概率问题的解决方案涉及显示(i)人们可以从量子力学中推导出测量仪器作为经典信息来源的存在条件，以及具有使用测量仪器应用和测试量子力学的能力的信息收集者的存在，以及（ii）理论的广义转移概率可以在不解决测量真值问题的情况下给出主观贝叶斯解释。PI认为，真理问题的可能解决方案是很容易理解的，并提议表明，任何这样的解决方案都会产生量子力学的修改，在解释和方法上都不如标准理论，特别是在考虑量子计算和量子密码学的新结果方面。更广泛的影响：PI提议写一本书来发展这些思想，供从事量子信息和计算问题研究的科学家、从事解释问题研究的科学哲学家以及对物理学基础发展感兴趣的更广泛的读者使用。PI被邀请在各种会议上发表与上述量子力学信息理论解释相关的论文，并为一些手册和百科全书贡献文章。最近的一些论文和博士论文讨论了clifton - bubb - halvorson结果及其含义，并且pi的三名博士生将在不久的将来就量子信息的各个方面进行论文研究。这项研究的结果将被纳入针对物理专业学生的物理学哲学本科课程（Phil 354）。PI还将通过一年一度的“物理学基础新方向会议”和在线档案传播有关该项目的信息。1

Project SummaryThe problem of how to make sense of the non-classical probabilistic behavior ofquantum systems was the subject of an unresolved dispute between Einstein and Bohr.The opposition between their opposing philosophical views has provided the tension foran ongoing debate among physicists and philosophers of physics about the conceptualsignificance of the transition from classical to quantum mechanics, centering on a measurementproblem in the foundations of the theory. The 1990s saw the development ofa quantum theory of information, prompted by the realization that certain nonclassicalfeatures of quantum systems could be exploited to perform information-processing tasksthat would be impossible in a Newtonian world. This has led to an explosion of interestin theoretical and practical applications of quantum computation and quantum cryptography,and a reconsideration of the foundational problems underlying the Bohr-Einsteindebate.Intellectual Merit: The PI has published a number of recent papers on these issues,in particular a paper (jointly authored with Rob Clifton and Hans Halvorson) showingthat one can derive the basic features of a quantum-theoretic description of physical systemsfrom three information-theoretic constraints. The research project involves workingout the details of an information-theoretic interpretation of quantum mechanics inthe light of the Clifton-Bub-Halvorson result. A core feature is to split the measurementproblem into a problem about truth and a problem about probability, and to set aside thetruth problem. The PIs solution to the probability problem involves showing (i) that onecan derive from quantum mechanics the conditions for the existence of measuring instrumentsas sources of classical information, and the existence of information-gathererswith the ability to use measuring instruments to apply and test quantum mechanics, and(ii) that the generalized transition probabilities of the theory can be given a subjectiveBayesian interpretation without solving the truth problem of measurement. The PI arguesthat the possible solutions to the truth problem are well understood, and proposesto show that any such solution produces a modification of quantum mechanics that isexplanatorily and methodologically inferior to the standard theory, particularly with respectto accounting for the new results in quantum computation and quantum cryptography.Broader Impacts: The PI proposes to write a book developing these ideas accessibleto scientists who work on issues in quantum information and computation, tophilosophers of science who work on questions of interpretation, and to a wider groupof readers interested in developments in the foundations of physics. The PI has beeninvited to present papers on topics related to the above information-theoretic interpretationof quantum mechanics at various conferences, and to contribute articles to severalHandbooks and Encyclopedias. A number of recent papers and PhD dissertations discussthe Clifton-Bub-Halvorson result and its implications, and three of the PIs PhDstudents will shortly be working on dissertations on various aspects of quantum information.The results of this research will be incorporated in an undergraduate course onphilosophy of physics (Phil 354) directed at physics students. The PI will also disseminate information on the project through an annual "new directions in the foundations of physics conference," and through online archives. 1