arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Richard A Mould.
The shelving phenomenon of quantum optics, originally observed by Dehmelt, is analyzed in terms of the qRules that are given in another paper. The heuristic value of these rules is apparent because they not only describe the dark period during shelving, but they reveal the mechanism that enforces the suppression of fluorescence during that time.
It is claimed in another paper that the collapse of a quantum mechanical wave function is more than invariant, it is trans-representational. It must occur along a fully invariant surface. The obvious surface available for this purpose is that of the backward time cone of the collapse event as proposed by Hellwig and Kraus. This collapse is widely believed to result in paradoxical causal loops that cannot be removed by special relativistic or standard quantum mechanical considerations alone. However, the paradox is resolved when we apply the qRule foundation theory that is developed in the other paper. The causal and temporal orders of state reduction are then found to be in agreement with one another, and the resulting boundaries in Minkowski space are shown to have a novel architecture that limits the range of a Hellwig-Kraus reduction in space and time. Although these boundaries have been worked out using the qRules, they should be the same for any foundation theory that treats the collapse of a wave in an invariant way, and requires that a collapse destroys the possibility of any further influence on itself, as do the qRules. Keywords: measurement, state reduction, wave collapse.
When a weak photon decay competes with a strong photon decay in a 3-level atom, the weak occasionally prevails over the strong photon. This is the shelving phenomenon. It is assumed in this paper to occur objectively and autonomously, independent of external observation or lack of observation. We here consider an auxiliary rule-set called the nRules that triggers a non-unitary mechanism that applies to all macroscopic measurements, as well as to many microscopic processes including shelving. These rules are shown below to describe the shelving process in complete detail without resorting to the notion of null measurement, or to an external measurement of any kind. They describe the V and the Lambda shelving configurations, as well as the two cascade configurations.
The nRules are empirical regularities that were discovered in macroscopic situations where the outcome is known. When they are projected theoretically into the microscopic domain they predict a novel ontology including the frequent collapse of an atomic wave function, thereby defining an nRule based foundation theory. Future experiments can potentially discriminate between this and other foundation theories of (non-relativistic) quantum mechanics. Important features of the nRules are: (1) they introduce probability through probability current rather than the Born rule, (2) they are valid independent of size (micro or macroscopic), (3) they apply to individual trials, not just to ensembles of trials. (4) they allow all observers to be continuously included in the system without ambiguity, (5) they account for the collapse of the wave function without introducing new or using old physical constants, and (6) in dense environments they provide a high frequency of stochastic localizations of quantum mechanical objects. Key words: measurement, stochastic choice, state reduction.
The auxiliary rules of quantum mechanics can be written without the Born rule by using what are called the nRules. The nRules are understood in part by making certain modifications in the Hamiltonian. In this paper, those modifications are written directly into the nRules, reducing their number from four to three. It is shown that the nRules in either form provide for a definite direction in time, guaranteeing that a statistically irreversible interaction is absolutely irreversible.
The auxiliary rules of quantum mechanics have always included the Born rule that connects probability with square modulus. This need not be the case, for it is possible to introduce probability into the theory through probability current alone. When this is done, other rules can provide for stochastically triggered measurements within a system of any size, microscopic or macroscopic; and solutions to the Schrodinger equation can be consistently applied to individual trials, not just to ensembles of trials. Other advantages appear. The rules can then resolve the paradox associated with the Schrodinger cat experiment, and remove the possibility of the many world thesis of Everett. As a result, the system can accommodate any conscious observer, including the principal investigator who cannot otherwise be included in a quantum mechanical system.
Standard quantum mechanics makes use of four auxiliary rules that allow the Schrodinger solutions to be related to laboratory experience, such as the Born rule that connects square modulus to probability. These rules (here called the sRules) lead to some unacceptable results. They do not allow the primary observer to be part of the system. They do not allow individual observations (as opposed to ensembles) to be part of the system. They make a fundamental distinction between microscopic and macroscopic things, and they are ambiguous in their description of secondary observers such as Schrodingers cat. The nRules are an alternative set of auxiliary rules that avoid the above difficulties. In this paper we look at a wide range of representative experiments showing that the nRules adequately relate the Schrodinger solutions to empirical experience. This suggests that the sRules should be abandoned in favor of the more satisfactory nRules, or a third auxiliary rule-set called the oRules. Keywords: brain states, consciousness, decoherence, epistemology, measurement, ontology, stochastic, state reduction, wave collapse.
Quantum mechanics traditionally places the observer outside of the system being studied and employs the Born interpretation. In this and related papers the observer is placed inside the system. To accomplish this, special rules are required to engage and interpret the Schrodinger solutions in individual measurements. The rules in this paper (called the oRules) do not include the Born rule that connects probability with square modulus. It is required that the rules allow conscious observers to exist inside the system without empirical ambiguity, reflecting our own unambiguous experience in the universe. This requirement is satisfied by the oRules. These rules are restricted to observer measurements, so state reduction can only occur when an observer is present. Keywords: brain states, decoherence, epistemological model, ontological model, stochastic choice, state reduction, von Neumann, wave collapse.
The oRules of state reduction are applied to the case of the Schrodinger cat experiment. It is shown that these rules can unambiguously describe the conscious state of the cat, as well as an outside observer at any time during the experiment. Two versions of the experiment are considered. In version I, the conscious cat is made unconscious by a mechanism that is triggered by a radioactive decay. In version II, the sleeping cat is made conscious by an alarm clock that is triggered by a radioactive decay.
The nRules that are developed in another paper are applied to two versions of the Schrodinger cat experiment. In version I the initially conscious cat is made unconscious by a mechanism that is initiated by a radioactive decay. In version II the initially unconscious cat is awakened by a mechanism that is initiated by a radioactive decay. In both cases an observer is permitted to check the statues of the cat at any time during the experiment. In all cases the nRules correctly and unambiguously predict the conscious experience of the cat and the observer. Keywords: brain states of observer, stochastic choice, state reduction, wave collapse.
New rules are proposed to govern the collapse of a wave function during measurement. These rules apply with or without an observer in the system. They overcome an absurdity that was previous found when an objective state reduction is combined with an observer-based state reduction. Key Words: brain states, conscious observer, detector, measurement, florescent pulsing, probability current, state reduction, three-level atom, von Neumann, wave collapse.
When a weak decay competes with a strong decay in a 3-level atom, some mechanism is necessary to occasionally stop the strong decay so the weak decay can be completed. Rule (4) provides that mechanism. Using this rule, a weak photon is emitted at the correct time for both the V and L configurations, as well as for the two cascade configurations. Key Words: observer, detector, measurement, florescent pulsing, probability current, state reduction, three-level atom.
When a conscious observer is part of a quantum mechanical system, rule (4) cuts off solutions to the Schrodinger equation. It is important to show that this interruption of the Hamiltonian dynamics does not effect the statistical predictions of the theory. The initial case considered is that of a two atom radioactive source. It is found that when the predictions of standard (Born rule) quantum theory are verified by using a particular experimental procedure, the result is the same as that predicted by quantum theory qualified by rule (4). This example is generalized, and the result is found to be the same.
Preciously given rules allow conscious systems to be included in quantum mechanical systems. There rules are derived from the empirical experience of an observer who witnesses a quantum mechanical interaction leading to the capture of a single particle. In the present paper it is shown that purely classical changes experienced by an observer are consistent with these rules. Three different interactions are considered, two of which combine classical and quantum mechanical changes. The previously given rules support all of these cases. Key Words: brain states, conscious observer, detector, measurement, probability current, state reduction, von Neumann, wave collapse.
We examine the role of a conscious observer in a typical quantum mechanical measurement. Four rules are given that govern stochastic choice and state reduction in several cases of continuous and intermittent observation. It is found that consciousness always accompanies a state reduction leading to observation, but its presence is not sufficient to 'cause' a reduction. The distinction is clarified and codified by the rules that are given below. This is the first of several papers that lead to an experimental test of the rules, and of the "parallel principle" that is described elsewhere. Key words: Brain states, boundary conditions, consciousness, conscious observer, environment, decoherence, macroscopic superposition, measurement, state reduction, state collapse, von Neumann.
In a previous paper we examined the role of a conscious observer in a typical quantum mechanical measurement. Four rules were given that were found to govern the stochastic choice and state reduction in several cases of continuous and intermittent observation. It was shown that consciousness always accompanies a state reduction leading to observation, but its presence is not sufficient to 'cause' a reduction. The distinction is clarified and codified by the rules that are repeated below. In this paper, these rules are successfully applied to two different versions of the Schrodinger cat experiment. Key Words: Brain states, boundary conditions, cat paradox, consciousness, conscious observer, environment, decoherence, macroscopic superposition, measurement, state reduction, state collapse, von Neumann.
If conscious observers are to be included in the quantum mechanical universe, we need to find the rules that engage observers with quantum mechanical systems. The author has proposed five rules that are discovered by insisting on empirical completeness; that is, by requiring the rules to draw empirical information from Schrodinger's solutions that is more complete than is currently possible with the (Born) probability interpretation. I discard Born's interpretation, introducing probability solely through probability current. These rules tell us something about brains. They require the existence of observer brain states that are neither conscious nor unconscious. I call them 'ready' brain states because they are on stand-by, ready to become conscious the moment they are stochastically chosen. Two of the rules are selection rules involving ready brain states. The place of these rules in a wider theoretical context is discussed. Key Words: boundary conditions, consciousness, decoherence, macroscopic superposition, Penrose, state reduction, von Neumann, wave collapse.
Post-inflationary boundary conditions are essential to the existence of our highly structured universe, and these can only come about through quantum mechanical state reductions - i.e., through measurements. The choice is between: An 'objective' measurement that allows reduction to occur independent of conscious observers, and an 'observer' based measurement that ties reduction to the existence of a conscious observer. It is shown in this paper that that choice cannot be determined empirically; so how we finally understand state reduction will be decided by the way that reduction is used in a wider (future) theoretical framework. Key Words: consciousness, decoherence, stochastic choice, wave collapse.