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Probabilistic Theories and Reconstructions of Quantum Theory (Les Houches 2019 lecture notes)
by Markus P. Müller
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Markus Müller |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.01286v3 (pdf) |
| Date accepted: | March 24, 2021 |
| Date submitted: | March 16, 2021, 8:22 a.m. |
| Submitted by: | Markus Müller |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics Lecture Notes |
| Ontological classification | |
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| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
These lecture notes provide a basic introduction to the framework of generalized probabilistic theories (GPTs) and a sketch of a reconstruction of quantum theory (QT) from simple operational principles. To build some intuition for how physics could be even more general than quantum, I present two conceivable phenomena beyond QT: superstrong nonlocality and higher-order interference. Then I introduce the framework of GPTs, generalizing both quantum and classical probability theory. Finally, I summarize a reconstruction of QT from the principles of Tomographic Locality, Continuous Reversibility, and the Subspace Axiom. In particular, I show why a quantum bit is described by a Bloch ball, why it is three-dimensional, and how one obtains the complex numbers and operators of the usual representation of QT.
Author comments upon resubmission
List of changes
6: After the half sentence on page 30, saying that e^{(1)} is a valid effect, I have aded the following comment in brackets: “(recall that we assume the no-restriction hypothesis in all of these lecture notes; otherwise, we would need an additional argument to show that e^{(1)} is physically allowed).”
7: I have expanded the explanation where Eq. (6) comes from; see now the top of page 32. Namely, it follows from two other lemmas: multiplicativity of the maximally mixed state, and representation of the maximally mixed state as a mixture of perfectly distinguishable pure states. All postulates are used to prove those. Since the lecture notes only intend to give a summary or sketch of the representation, I refer to our paper for the details.
9: I have added a reference to the paper by Lee and Selby on page 12. Note that, in the corresponding paragraph, I am also mentioning some other things that can be done with the GPT framework; in particular, to formulate consistent theories of higher-order interference.
Published as SciPost Phys. Lect. Notes 28 (2021)