The causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, as originally stated by deBroglie and Bohm, had several attractive features. Among these is the possibility that it could address some of the most fundamental questions on quantum phenomena. However, subsequent theoretical conjectures, which have now been included in the orthodox view of the deBroglie Bohm theory, are unphysical and have done much to undermine the original theory's appeal. We, therefore, return to the original theory as our starting point and address one of its perplexing areas: the quantum potential. By avoiding the unphysical conjectures we are led to an understanding of the quantum potential which is distinctly different from that of the orthodox deBroglie Bohm view.
Quantum three box paradox is a prototypical example of some bizarre predictions for intermediate measurements made on pre- and post-selected systems. Although in principle those effects can be explained by measurement disturbance, it is not clear what mechanisms are required to fully account for the observed correlations. In this paper, this paradox is scrutinised from the causal point of view. We consider an array of potential causal structures behind the experiment, eliminating those without enough explanatory power. This gives a means of differentiating between the various mechanisms in whi…
The De Broglie-Bohm (DeBB)\cite{DeBB} Causal Quantum Mechanics played a crucial role in Bell's discovery \cite{Bell1964} that quantum mechanics violates EPR local reality \cite{EPR1935}, and also in Bell's search for an exact quantum mechanics. The experiments of Aspect et al \cite{Aspect1981} confirm quantum correlations between plane polarizations of two photons and violation of Bell's inequalities by a factor $\sqrt 2 $. I prove that similar experiments with elliptic polarizers can also show quantum violations of Bell's inequality by the same factor. I summarize our construction of a maxima…
We extend Pearl's definition of causal influence to the quantum domain, where two quantum systems $A$, $B$ with finite-dimensional Hilbert space are embedded in a common environment $C$ and propagated with a joint unitary $U$. For finite dimensional Hilbert space of $C$, we find the necessary and sufficient condition on $U$ for a causal influence of $A$ on $B$ and vice versa. We introduce an easily computable measure of the causal influence and use it to study the causal influence of different quantum gates, its mutuality, and quantum superpositions of different causal orders. For two two-leve…
To study which are the most general causal structures which are compatible with local quantum mechanics, Oreshkov et al. introduced the notion of a process: a resource shared between some parties that allows for quantum communication between them without a predetermined causal order. These processes can be used to perform several tasks that are impossible in standard quantum mechanics: they allow for the violation of causal inequalities, and provide an advantage for computational and communication complexity. Nonetheless, no process that can be used to violate a causal inequality is known to b…
Causal emergence is brought about when a coarse-grained description of a physical system is more effective (more deterministic and/or less degenerate) than the fine-grained corresponding model. We show, for the first time to our knowledge, a causal emergence in a quantum system: a atomic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two which-path detectors. The atomic wave-like or particle-like descriptions are related, respectively, to \textit{coarse-grained} and \textit{fine-grained} models. The predictions of the atomic position after the passage through the interferometer when the to \textit{coarse-gr…
We introduce a new interpretation of quantum mechanics by examining the Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen's (EPR) paradox and Bell's inequality experiments under the assumption that the vacuum has an inhomogeneous texture for energy levels below the Heisenberg time-energy uncertainty relation. In this article, selected results from the most reliable Bell's inequality experiments will be quantitatively analyzed to show that our interpretation of quantum mechanics creates a new loophole in Bell's inequality, and that the past experimental findings do not contradict our new interpretation. Under the v…
Recent frameworks describing quantum mechanics in the absence of a global causal order admit the existence of causally indefinite processes, where it is impossible to ascribe causal order for events A and B. These frameworks even allow for processes that violate the so-called causal inequalities, which are analogous to Bell's inequalities. However, the physicality of these exotic processes is, in the general case, still under debate, bringing into question their foundational relevance. While it is known that causally indefinite processes can be probabilistically realised by means of a quantum …
A modified lagrangian with causal and retrocausal momenta was used to derive a first causal wave equation and a second retrocausal wave equation using the principle of least action. The retrocausal wave function obtained through this method was found to be equivalent to the complex conjugate of the causal wave function, thus leading to the conclusion that a retrocausal effect is already implicit in quantum mechanics through the means of complex conjugation of the wave function when computing the probability density for a particle. Lastly, the same variational principle was employed with a frac…
One of the basic assumptions underlying Bell's theorem is the causal arrow of time, having to do with temporal order rather than spatial separation. Nonetheless, the physical assumptions regarding causality are seldom studied in this context, and often even go unmentioned, in stark contrast with the many different possible locality conditions which have been studied and elaborated. In the present work, some retrocausal toy-models which reproduce the predictions of Quantum Mechanics for Bell-type correlations are reviewed. It is pointed out that a certain toy-model which is ostensibly superdete…
The causal quantum mechanics (i.e. Bohmian or de Broglie-Bohm or Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics) has made possible to calculate the trajectories of electrons in a typical double-slit experiment [C. Philippidis et al., Il Nuovo Cimento, 52 B, 15-28 (1979)]. The trajectories do not correspond to an uniform movement but to an accelerated one. The acceleration is caused by the quantum potential. From the quantum theoretical point of view, there is a probability for the electron to emit photons, with a certain emission power, during its movement from the slits to the screen. We find a quantum ge…
It has been shown that it is theoretically possible for there to exist higher-order quantum processes in which the operations performed by separate parties cannot be ascribed a definite causal order. Some of these processes are believed to have a physical realization in standard quantum mechanics via coherent control of the times of the operations. A prominent example is the quantum SWITCH, which was recently demonstrated experimentally. However, the interpretation of such experiments as realizations of a process with indefinite causal structure as opposed to some form of simulation of such a …
A non-local hidden variables theory for non-relativisitic quantum theory is presented, which gives a realist completion of quantum mechanics, in the sense of a complete description of individual events. The proposed fundamental theory is an extension of an energetic causal set theory, which assumes that time, events, causal structure, momentum and energy are fundamental. But space and the wave function are emergent. The beables of the theory are the views of the events, which are a subset of their causal pasts. Thus, this theory asserts that the universe is a causal network of events, which co…
Although it may seem The Delayed Choice experiments contradict causality and one could construct an experiment which could possibly affect the past, using Many World interpretation we prove it is not possible. We also find a mathematical background to Which-path information and show why its obtainability prevents system from interfering. We find a system which exhibit both interference and correlation and show why one-particle interference and correlations are complementary. Better visible interference pattern leads to worse correlations and vice versa. Then, using knowledge gained from Quantu…
Consciousness and quantum mechanics of macroscopic systems
我们提出复杂系统的量子力学描述应该使用两种类型的因果关系：序关系（$x\prec y$）和子集关系（$A\subseteq B$）。在量子引力的背景下，已经提出了具有两个有序操作的结构，称为因果位点（Christensen and Crane，2005）。我们认为它们在生物物理学中也很常见，可能描述了大脑的工作方式。在彭罗斯思想的精神中，我们把时空的几何学与普遍的意识场等同起来。后者在古印度哲学中有明显的对应物，并为物理和心理现象的统一提供了一个框架。
Phenomena induced by the existence of entanglement, such as nonlocal correlations, exhibit characteristic properties of quantum mechanics distinguishing from classical theories. When entanglement is accompanied by classical communication, it enhances the power of quantum operations jointly performed by two spatially separated parties. Such a power has been analyzed by the gap between the performances of joint quantum operations implementable by local operations at each party connected by classical communication with and without the assistance of entanglement. In this work, we present a new for…
The spin-statistics connection has been proved for nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (Jabs, A., 2010: Found. Phys., {\bf 40}, 776-792). The proof is extended here to the relativistic regime using the parametrized Dirac equation. A causality condition is not required.
To date, there has been no experimental evidence that invalidates quantum theory. Yet it may only be an effective description of the world, in the same way that classical physics is an effective description of the quantum world. We ask whether there exists an operationally-defined theory superseding quantum theory, but which reduces to it via a decoherence-like mechanism. We prove that no such post-quantum theory exists if it is demanded that it satisfy two natural physical principles: causality and purification. Causality formalises the statement that information propagates from present to fu…
It is shown that a general radial conformal Killing vector in Minkowski space-time can be associated to a generator of time evolution in conformal quantum mechanics. Among these conformal Killing vectors one finds a class which maps causal diamonds in Minkowski space-time into themselves. The flow of such Killing vectors describes worldlines of accelerated observers with a finite lifetime within the causal diamond. Time evolution of static diamond observers is equivalent to time evolution in conformal quantum mechanics governed by a hyperbolic Hamiltonian and covering only a segment of the tim…
