The left-to-right motion of a free quantum Gaussian wave packet can be accompanied by the right-to-left flow of the probability density, the effect recently studied by Villanueva [Am. J. Phys. 88, 325 (2020)]. Using the Wigner representation of the wave packet, we analyze the effect in phase space, and demonstrate that its physical origin is rooted in classical mechanics.
The probability representation of states in standard quantum mechanics where the quantum states are associated with fair probability distributions (instead of wave function or density matrix) is shortly commented and bibliography related to the probability representation is given.
In this comment paper we present two misconceptions found in paper of Nahimovs et al. \emph{On the probability of finding marked connected components using quantum walks}. First, we show that the Theorem 2 (sufficient and necessary condition for a state to be stationary) is incomplete -- it works only if unmarked vertices form a single connected component. Second, we correct derivation of \emph{a} coefficient in the Theorem 3 (lower bound on the probability) and show how to upper bound value of \emph{a}.
We comment on publications by N. V. Budko on the near- and intermediate- as well as far-field causal properties of classical electro-magnetic fields. Extension to second-quantized fields in the presence but arbitrary but classical sources is comment upon.
In this comment we argue that negative absolute temperatures are a well-established concept for systems with bounded spectra. They are not only consistent with thermodynamics, but are even unavoidable for a consistent description of the thermal equilibrium of inverted populations.
We discuss the recent proposal by Thommen and Mandel (Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 96}, 053601 (2006)) for electromagnetically induced negative refraction. Although the main conclusion of the paper -- the possibility to achieve negative refraction in an experimentally accessible atomic scheme -- remains valid, we show that the weak-excitation approximation used is invalid in the parameter regime studied and leads to quantitatively incorrect predictions. We show that negative refraction is always accompanied by absorption rather than by gain, and that the maximum value of the refraction-absorption rat…
The recent Geneva experiment strikingly displays lawlike reversibility together with quantum nonseparability. As in any probabilistic physics correlation expresses interaction, and as Born's probability rules grafted upon de Broglie's wave mechanics turn the probability scheme into the code of an information transmitting telegraph, the Lorentz and CPT invariant transition amplitude reversibly carries a zigzagging causation.
The example provided in the comment [arXiv:0803.2241] concerns a situation where the system is initially at negative temperature. It is known that in such cases the Law of Entropy Decrease holds. Nevertheless, this does not challenge the validity of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Recently Dzhafarov and Kon published the paper advertising the possibility to use the coupling technique of classical probability theory to model incompatible observables in quantum physics and quantum-like models of psychology. Here I present comments on this paper by stressing advantages and disadvantages.
In [X.-W. Hou, Z.-P. Huang, S. Chen, Eur. Phys. J. D 68, 1 (2014)], Hou et al. present, using Tsallis' entropy, possible generalizations of the quantum discord measure, finding original results. As for the mutual informations and discord, we show here that these two types of quantifiers can take negative values. In the two qubits instance we further determine in which regions they are non-negative. Additionally, we study alternative generalizations on the basis of Rényi entropies.
Three basic postulates for Quantum Theory are proposed, namely the Probability, Maximum-Speed and Hilbert-Space postulates. Subsequently we show how these postulates give rise to well-known and widely used quantum results, as the probability rule and the linearity of quantum evolution. A discussion of the postulates in the light of Bell's theorem is included which points towards yet unsolved conceptual problems in the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics.
Approximately forty years ago it was realized that the time development of decaying systems might not be precisely exponential. Rolf Winter (Phys. Rev. {\bf 123}, 1503 (1961)) analyzed the simplest nontrivial system - a particle tunneling out of a well formed by a wall and a delta-function. He calculated the probability current just outside the well and found irregular oscillations on a short time scale followed by an exponential decrease followed by more oscillations and finally by a decrease as a power of the time. We have reanalyzed this system, concentrating on the survival probability of …
It is often objected that the Everett interpretation of QM cannot make sense of quantum probabilities, in one or both of two ways: either it can't make sense of probability at all, or it can't explain why probability should be governed by the Born rule. David Deutsch has attempted to meet these objections. He argues not only that rational decision under uncertainty makes sense in the Everett interpretation, but also that under reasonable assumptions, the credences of a rational agent in an Everett world should be constrained by the Born rule. David Wallace has developed and defended Deutsch's …
It is shown that the interpretation of the electron wave function as a classical field is untenable because the so called energy-density defined in \cite{seb} takes on negative values in some regions. The claim that the velocity of the electron never exceeds the speed of light is also invalid. The velocity, as defined by the author, becomes even infinite at some points.
In a recent manuscript, Gelman & Yao (2020) claim that "the usual rules of conditional probability fail in the quantum realm" and that "probability theory isn't true (quantum physics)" and purport to support these statements with the example of a quantum double-slit experiment. The present comment recalls some relevant literature in quantum theory and shows that (i) Gelman & Yao's statements are false; in fact, the quantum example confirms the rules of probability theory; (ii) the particular inequality found in the quantum example can be shown to appear also in very non-quantum examples, such …
Vaidman's analysis of the photon's past is based on incorrect interpretation of quantum probability amplitudes. The confusion stems from his original work [{\it Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{60}, 1351 (1988)], which missed the connection between the amplitudes and the "weak values" introduced therein.
A carefully written paper by A. Caticha [Phys. Rev. A57, 1572 (1998)] applies consistency arguments to derive the quantum mechanical rules for compounding probability amplitudes in much the same way as earlier work by the present author [J. Math. Phys. 29, 398 (1988) and Int. J. Theor. Phys. 27, 543 (1998)]. These works are examined together to find the minimal assumptions needed to obtain the most general results.
Elaborating on a previous work by Han et al., we give a general, basis-independent proof of the necessity of negative probability measures in order for a class of local hidden-variable (LHV) models to violate the Bell-CHSH inequality. Moreover, we obtain general solutions for LHV-induced probability measures that reproduce any consistent set of probabilities.
Recent experiment by Zhinden et al (Phys. Rev {\bf A} 63 02111, 2001) purports to test compatibility between relativity and quantum mechanics in the classic EPR setting. We argue that relativity has no role in the EPR argument based solely on non-relativistic quantum formalism. It is suggested that this interesting experiment may have significance to address fundamental questions on quantum probability.
Following the relationship between probability distribution and coherent states, for example the well known Poisson distribution and the ordinary coherent states and relatively less known one of the binomial distribution and the $su(2)$ coherent states, we propose ``interpretation'' of $su(1,1)$ and $su(r,1)$ coherent states ``in terms of probability theory''. They will be called the ``negative binomial'' (``multinomial'') ``states'' which correspond to the ``negative'' binomial (multinomial) distribution, the non-compact counterpart of the well known binomial (multinomial) distribution. Expli…
It is generally known that the energy density can be negative in quantum field theory. It is also believed that there are limits on this negative energy density. These limits are known as the quantum inequalities. In a recent paper [8] an example was provided of a system which violated the quantum inequalities. Here we will demonstrate a violation of the spatial quantum inequality for a scalar field with zero mass in 1-1 dimensional space-time. In addition we will show that the system presented here also violates the quantum interest conjecture.
We show an eavesdropping scheme, by which the eavesdropper can achieve the full information of the key against the protocol [Kye et al., PRL 95 040501 (2005)] with a probability of unity and will not be discovered by the the legitimate users, even in the case that they have the perfect single-photon source and the loseless channel.
The authors of the recent paper [1] boldly claim to discover a new fully quantum approach to foundation of statistical mechanics: "Our conceptually novel approach is free of mathematically ambiguous notions such as probability, ensemble, randomness, etc." The aim of this note is to show that this approach is neither specific for quantum systems nor really conceptually different from the standard textbook arguments supporting microcanonical or canonical ensembles in statistical mechanics.
In a recent paper \cite{Matz}, Duprey and Matzin investigeated the meaning of vanishing "weak values" (WV), and their role in the retrodiction of the past of a pre- and post-selected quantum system in the presence of interference. Here we argue that any proposition, regarding the WV values, should be understood as a statement about the probability amplitudes, and revisit some of the conclusions reached in \cite{Matz}.
In this paper, we give a frequency interpretation of negative probability, as well as of extended probability, demonstrating that to a great extent, these new types of probabilities, behave as conventional probabilities. Extended probability comprises both conventional probability and negative probability. The frequency interpretation of negative probabilities gives supportive evidence to the axiomatic system built in (Burgin, 2009; arXiv:0912.4767) for extended probability as it is demonstrated in this paper that frequency probabilities satisfy all axioms of extended probability.
Ilya Schmelzer wrote recently: {\it Nieuwenhuizen argued that there exists some "contextuality loophole" in Bell's theorem. This claim in unjustified}. It is made clear that this arose from attaching a meaning to the title and the content of the paper different from the one intended by Nieuwenhuizen. "Contextual loophole" means only that if the supplementary parameters describing measuring instruments are correctly introduced, Bell and Bell-type inequalities may not be proven. It is also stressed that a hidden variable model suffers from a "contextuality loophole" if it tries to describe diffe…
A concise derivation of all uncertainty relations is given entirely within the context of phase-space quantization, without recourse to operator methods, to the direct use of Weyl's correspondence, or to marginal distributions of x and p.