Contextuality is a necessary resource for universal quantum computation and non-contextual quantum mechanics can be simulated efficiently by classical computers in many cases. Orders of Planck's constant, $\hbar$, can also be used to characterize the classical-quantum divide by expanding quantities of interest in powers of $\hbar$---all orders higher than $\hbar^0$ can be interpreted as quantum corrections to the order $\hbar^0$ term. We show that contextual measurements in finite-dimensional systems have formulations within the Wigner-Weyl-Moyal (WWM) formalism that require higher than order $\hbar^0$ terms to be included in order to violate the classical bounds on their expectation values. As a result, we show that contextuality as a resource is equivalent to orders of $\hbar$ as a resource within the WWM formalism. This explains why qubits can only exhibit state-independent contextuality under Pauli observables as in the Peres-Mermin square while odd-dimensional qudits can also exhibit state-dependent contextuality. In particular, we find that qubit Pauli observables lack an order $\hbar^0$ contribution in their Weyl symbol and so exhibit contextuality regardless of the state being measured. On the other hand, odd-dimensional qudit observables generally possess non-zero order $\hbar^0$ terms, and higher, in their WWM formulation, and so exhibit contextuality depending on the state measured: odd-dimensional qudit states that exhibit measurement contextuality have an order $\hbar^1$ contribution that allows for the violation of classical bounds while states that do not exhibit measurement contextuality have insufficiently large order $\hbar^1$ contributions.
We present a unified axiomatic approach to contextuality and non-locality based on the fact that both are resource theories. In those theories the main objects are consistent boxes, which can be transformed by certain operations to achieve certain tasks. The amount of resource is quantified by appropriate measures of the resource. Following recent paper [J.I. de Vicente, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. {\bf 47}, 424017 (2014)], and recent development of abstract approach to resource theories, such as entanglement theory, we propose axioms and welcome properties for operations and measures of resource…
In this paper, we discuss an equation which does not contain the Planck's constant, but it will turn out the Planck's constant when we apply the equation to the problems of particle diffraction.
In this paper we put forward some simple rules which can be used to pass from the quantum Moyal evolution operator to the classical Liouville one without taking the Planck constant to zero. These rules involve the averaging over some auxiliary variables.
The mathematical possibility of coupling two quantum dynamic systems having two different Planck constants, respectively, is investigated. It turns out that such canonical dynamics are always irreversible. Semiclassical dynamics is obtained by letting one of the two Planck constants go to zero. This semiclassical dynamics will preserve positivity, as expected, so an improvement of the earlier proposals by Aleksandrov and by Boucher and Traschen is achieved. Coupling of quantized matter to gravity is illustrated by a simplistic example.
It is shown, by considering the case of the harmonic oscillator, that quantum fluctuations may be the most significant contribution to the random walk of a single molecule. From this point, the controversy on the existence of a standard quantum limit (SQL) is addressed and settled on the experimental ground. Comparisons to the experimental data yet avalaible in the literature provide a new estimate of the reduced Planck constant yielding \hbar = (1.1 \pm 0.2) ~ 10^{-34} J.s.
The possibility is discussed of inferring or simulating some aspects of quantum dynamics by adding classical statistical fluctuations to classical mechanics. We introduce a general principle of mechanical stability and derive a necessary condition for classical chaotic fluctuations to affect confined dynamical systems, on any scale, ranging from microscopic to macroscopic domains. As a consequence we obtain, both for microscopic and macroscopic aggregates, dimensional relations defining the minimum unit of action of individual constituents, yielding in all cases Planck action constant.
The constant h is elevated to a dynamical field, coupling to other fields, and itself, through the Lagrangian density derivative terms. The spatial and temporal dependence of h falls directly out of the field equations themselves. Three solutions are found: a free field with a tadpole term; a standing-wave non-propagating mode; a non-oscillating non-propagating mode. The first two are quantizable, and the third is not. The third corresponds to a zero-momentum classical field that naturally decays spatially to a constant with no ad-hoc terms added to the Lagrangian. An attempt is made to calibr…
Although Planck's constant h is currently regarded as the elementary quantum of action appearing in quantum theory, it can also be interpreted as the multiplicative scale factor setting the scale of classical zero-point radiation appearing in classical electromagnetic theory. Relativistic classical electron theory with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation gives many results in agreement with quantum theory. The areas of agreement between this classical theory and Nature seem worth further investigation.
Planck's constant was introduced as a fundamental scale in the early history of quantum mechanics. We find a modern approach where Planck's constant is absent: it is unobservable except as a constant of human convention. Despite long reference to experiment, review shows that Planck's constant cannot be obtained from the data of Ryberg, Davisson and Germer, Compton, or that used by Planck himself. In the new approach Planck's constant is tied to macroscopic conventions of Newtonian origin, which are dispensable. The precision of other fundamental constants is substantially improved by eliminat…
The Planck constant, with its mathematical symbol $h$, is a fundamental constant in quantum mechanics that is associated with the quantization of light and matter. It is also of fundamental importance to metrology, such as the definition of ohm and volt, and the latest definition of kilogram. One of the first measurements to determine the Planck constant is based on the photoelectric effect, however, the values thus obtained so far have exhibited a large uncertainty. The accepted value of the Planck constant, 6.62607015$\times$10$^{-34}$ J$\cdot$s, is obtained from one of the most precise meth…
Observables of quantum or classical mechanics form algebras called quantum or classical Hamilton algebras respectively (Grgin E and Petersen A (1974) {\it J Math Phys} {\bf 15} 764\cite{grginpetersen}, Sahoo D (1977) {\it Pramana} {\bf 8} 545\cite{sahoo}). We show that the tensor-product of two quantum Hamilton algebras, each characterized by a different Planck's constant is an algebra of the same type characterized by yet another Planck's constant. The algebraic structure of mixed quantum and classical systems is then analyzed by taking the limit of vanishing Planck's constant in one of the c…
We begin by discussing known theoretical results about the sensitivity of quantum states to changes in the value of Planck's constant h. These questions are related to positivity issues for self-adjoint trace class operators, which are not yet fully understood. We thereafter briefly discuss the implementation of experimental procedures to detect possible fluctuations of h.
We consider the possible quantum effect for infinite systems produced by variations of the Planck's constant. Using the algebraic formulation of quantum theory we study behaviour of states $ω$ defined as positive, normalized functionals on the canonical commutation relations algebra (CCR-algebra) under the changes of the defining relations of the CCR. These defining relations of the multiplication in the CCR-algebra depend explicitly on the value of the Planck's constant. We analyse to what extend changes of the $\hbar$ preserve the original state space (this gives restrictions on the admissib…
Recent cosmological measurements tend to confirm that the fine structure constant α is not immutable and has undergone a tiny variation since the Big Bang. Choosing adequate units, this could also reflect a variation of Planck's constant h. The aim of this Letter is to explore some consequences of such a possible change of h for the pure and mixed states of quantum mechanics. Surprisingly enough it is found that not only is the purity of a state extremely sensitive to such changes, but that quantum states can evolve into classical states, and vice versa. A complete classification of such trans…
Signal analysis is built upon various resolutions of the identity in signal vector spaces, e.g. Fourier, Gabor, wavelets, etc. Similar resolutions are used as quantizers of functions or distributions, paving the way to a time-frequency or time-scale quantum formalism and revealing interesting or unexpected features. Extensions to classical electromagnetism viewed as a quantum theory for waves and not for photons are mentioned.
In this paper we introduce a kind of "noncommutative neighbourhood" of a semiclassical parameter corresponding to the Planck constant. This construction is defined as a certain filtered and graded algebra with an infinite number of generators indexed by planar binary leaf-labelled trees. The associated graded algebra (the classical shadow) is interpreted as a "distortion" of the algebra of classical observables of a physical system. It is proven that there exists a q-analogue of the Weyl quantization, where q is a matrix of formal variables, which induces a nontrivial noncommutative analogue o…
Motivated by the Dirac idea that fundamental constant are dynamical variables and by conjectures on quantum structure of spacetime at small distances, we consider the possibility that Planck constant $\hbar$ is a time depending quantity, undergoing random gaussian fluctuations around its measured constant mean value, with variance $σ^2$ and a typical correlation timescale $Δt$. We consider the case of propagation of a free particle and a one--dimensional harmonic oscillator coherent state, and show that the time evolution in both cases is different from the standard behaviour. Finally, we disc…
In this paper the Hartree equation is derived from the $N$-body Schr\''odinger equation in the mean-field limit, with convergence rate estimates that are uniform in the Planck constant $\hbar$. Specifically, we consider the two following cases:(a) T\''oplitz initial data and Lipschitz interaction forces, and (b) analytic initial data and interaction potential, over short time intervals independent of $\hbar$. The convergence rates in these two cases are $1/\sqrt{\log\log N}$ and $1/N$ respectively. The treatment of the second case is entirely self-contained and all the constants appearing in t…
This work investigates in which form quantities with Planck dimensions occur already in the common quantum theory with local Lorentz symmetry. Since such Planck quantities as Planck length or Planck mass involve the Planck constant h, the velocity of light c and the Newton gravitational constant G, the relativistic Dirac equation (h, c) in the Newtonian gravitational potential (G) can be considered as a test theory. The evaluation of the break-off condition of the power series of the radial energy eigenfunctions of a purely gravitational atom leads to exact terms for the energy eigenvalues E f…
We review how the kinematic structures of special relativity and quantum mechanics both stem from the relativity principle, i.e., "no preferred reference frame" (NPRF). Essentially, NPRF applied to the measurement of the speed of light $c$ gives the light postulate and leads to the geometry of Minkowski spacetime, while NPRF applied to the measurement of Planck's constant $h$ gives "average-only" projection and leads to the denumerable-dimensional Hilbert space of quantum mechanics. These kinematic structures contain the counterintuitive aspects ("mysteries") of time dilation, length contracti…
In this paper we have investigated the classical limit in Bohmian quantum cosmology. It is observed that in the quantum regime where the quantum potential is greater than the classical one, one has an expansion in terms of negative powers of the Planck constant. But in the classical limit there are regions having positive powers of the Planck constant, and regions having negative powers and also regions having both. The conclusion is that the Bohmian classical limit cannot be obtained by letting the Planck constant goes to zero.
On 14 December 1900 Max Planck first formulated the idea of energy quanta related to a new universal constant now known as Planck's constant. Despite the following progress of thus initiated "quantum mechanics", the physical origin of both quantization and universality of Planck's constant remains mysterious, as well as other "peculiar" properties of quantum dynamics. In this paper we review a recent causal extension of quantum mechanics consistently explaining all its "mysteries" by irreducibly complex, "dynamically multivalued" behaviour of the underlying system of two interacting protofield…
There ought to exist a reformulation of quantum mechanics which does not refer to an external classical spacetime manifold. Such a reformulation can be achieved using the language of noncommutative differential geometry. A consequence which follows is that the `weakly quantum, strongly gravitational' dynamics of a relativistic particle whose mass is much greater than Planck mass is dual to the `strongly quantum, weakly gravitational' dynamics of another particle whose mass is much less than Planck mass. The masses of the two particles are inversely related to each other, and the product of the…
Within the context of the usual semi classical investigation of Planck scale Schwarzchild Black Holes, as in Quantum Gravity, and later attempts at a full Quantum Mechanical description in terms of a Kerr-Newman metric including the spinorial behaviour, we attempt to present a formulation that extends from the Planck scale to the Hubble scale. In the process the so called large number coincidences as also the hitherto inexplicable relations between the pion mass and the Hubble Constant, pointed out by Weinberg, turn out to be natural consequences in a consistent description.
A general method to derive the diagonal representation for a generic matrix valued quantum Hamiltonian is proposed. In this approach new mathematical objects like non-commuting operators evolving with the Planck constant promoted as a running variable are introduced. This method leads to a formal compact expression for the diagonal Hamiltonian which can be expanded in a power series of the Planck constant. In particular, we provide an explicit expression for the diagonal representation of a generic Hamiltonian to the second order in the Planck constant. This last result is applied, as a physic…
