1−1=Counterfactual: on the potency and significance of quantum non-events

A Elitzur; Eliahu Cohen

doi:10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

1−1=Counterfactual: on the potency and significance of quantum non-events

A Elitzur, Eliahu Cohen

School of Physics

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Abstract

We study the unique role played in quantum mechanics by non-events or ‘counterfactuals’. Our earlier analysis of ‘quantum oblivion’ has revealed some subtle stages in the measurement process, which may end up in self-cancellation. To these findings, we now add two insights derived by two time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics. (i) Like all quantum interactions, the non-event is formed by the conjunction of forward-plus-backward-evolving wave functions. (ii) Then, it is another feature of such dual evolutions, namely the involvement of negative masses and energies, that enables Nature to make some events ‘unhappen’ while leaving causal traces.

Original language	English
Article number	20150242
Number of pages	13
Journal	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume	374
Issue number	2068
Early online date	18 Apr 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0242
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2016

Keywords

quantum oblivion
counterfactuals
non-events
interaction-free
measurement
time symmetry

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10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

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title = "1−1=Counterfactual: on the potency and significance of quantum non-events",

abstract = "We study the unique role played in quantum mechanics by non-events or {\textquoteleft}counterfactuals{\textquoteright}. Our earlier analysis of {\textquoteleft}quantum oblivion{\textquoteright} has revealed some subtle stages in the measurement process, which may end up in self-cancellation. To these findings, we now add two insights derived by two time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics. (i) Like all quantum interactions, the non-event is formed by the conjunction of forward-plus-backward-evolving wave functions. (ii) Then, it is another feature of such dual evolutions, namely the involvement of negative masses and energies, that enables Nature to make some events {\textquoteleft}unhappen{\textquoteright} while leaving causal traces.",

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N2 - We study the unique role played in quantum mechanics by non-events or ‘counterfactuals’. Our earlier analysis of ‘quantum oblivion’ has revealed some subtle stages in the measurement process, which may end up in self-cancellation. To these findings, we now add two insights derived by two time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics. (i) Like all quantum interactions, the non-event is formed by the conjunction of forward-plus-backward-evolving wave functions. (ii) Then, it is another feature of such dual evolutions, namely the involvement of negative masses and energies, that enables Nature to make some events ‘unhappen’ while leaving causal traces.

AB - We study the unique role played in quantum mechanics by non-events or ‘counterfactuals’. Our earlier analysis of ‘quantum oblivion’ has revealed some subtle stages in the measurement process, which may end up in self-cancellation. To these findings, we now add two insights derived by two time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics. (i) Like all quantum interactions, the non-event is formed by the conjunction of forward-plus-backward-evolving wave functions. (ii) Then, it is another feature of such dual evolutions, namely the involvement of negative masses and energies, that enables Nature to make some events ‘unhappen’ while leaving causal traces.

KW - quantum oblivion

KW - counterfactuals

KW - non-events

KW - interaction-free

KW - measurement

KW - time symmetry

U2 - 10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

DO - 10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

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SN - 1364-503X

VL - 374

JO - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

JF - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

IS - 2068

M1 - 20150242

ER -

1−1=Counterfactual: on the potency and significance of quantum non-events

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Keywords

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