PIRSA:15050087

Quantum mechanics from first principles

Smolin, L. (2015). Quantum mechanics from first principles. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/15050087

Smolin, Lee. Quantum mechanics from first principles. Perimeter Institute, May. 12, 2015, https://pirsa.org/15050087 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:15050087,
            doi = {10.48660/15050087},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/15050087},
            author = {Smolin, Lee},
            keywords = {Mathematical physics, Quantum Foundations, Quantum Gravity, Quantum Information},
            language = {en},
            title = {Quantum mechanics from first principles},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2015},
            month = {may},
            note = {PIRSA:15050087 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Lee Smolin

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Talk number
PIRSA:15050087
Collection
Talk Type
Subject
Abstract
Quantum mechanics is derived from the principle that the universe contain as much variety as possible, in the sense of maximizing the distinctiveness of each subsystem. This is an expression of Leibniz's principles of sufficient reason and the identity of the indiscernible. The quantum state of a microscopic system is defined to correspond to an ensemble of subsystems of the universe with identical constituents and similar preparations and environments. A new kind of interaction is posited amongst such similar subsystems which acts to increase their distinctiveness, by extremizing the variety. In the limit of large numbers of similar subsystems this interaction is shown to give rise to Bohm's quantum potential. As a result the probability distribution for the ensemble is governed by the Schroedinger equation. The measurement problem is naturally and simply solved. Microscopic systems appear statistical because they are members of large ensembles of similar systems which interact non-locally. Macroscopic systems are unique, and are not members of any ensembles of similar systems. Consequently their collective coordinates may evolve deterministically. This proposal could be tested by constructing quantum devices from entangled states of a modest number of quits which, by its combinatorial complexity, can be expected to have no natural copies.