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arXiv · 1003.4273

Time-symmetric boundary conditions and quantum foundations

Ken Wharton
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Abstract

Despite the widely-held premise that initial boundary conditions (BCs) corresponding to measurements/interactions can fully specify a physical subsystem, a literal reading of Hamilton's principle would imply that both initial and final BCs are required (or more generally, a BC on a closed hypersurface in spacetime). Such a time-symmetric perspective of BCs, as applied to classical fields, leads to interesting parallels with quantum theory. This paper will map out some of the consequences of this counter-intuitive premise, as applied to covariant classical fields. The most notable result is the contextuality of fields constrained in this manner, naturally bypassing the usual arguments against so-called "realistic" interpretations of quantum phenomena.

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Ken Wharton. 2011-03-17. Time-symmetric boundary conditions and quantum foundations. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym2010272

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