We study classical Hamiltonian systems in which the intrinsic proper time evolution parameter is related through a probability distribution to the physical time, which is assumed to be discrete. In this way, a physical clock with discrete states is introduced, which presently is still treated as decoupled from the system. This is motivated by the recent discussion of ``timeless'' reparametrization invariant models, where discrete physical time has been constructed based on quasi-local observables. Employing the path-integral formulation of classical mechanics developed by Gozzi et al., we show that these deterministic classical systems can be naturally described as unitary quantum mechanical models. We derive the emergent quantum Hamiltonian in terms of the underlying classical one. Such Hamiltonians typically need a regularization - here performed by discretization - in order to arrive at models with a stable groundstate in the continuum limit. This is demonstrated in several examples, recovering and generalizing a model advanced by 't Hooft.
Starting from the canonical formalism of relativistic (timeless) quantum mechanics, the formulation of timeless path integral is rigorously derived. The transition amplitude is reformulated as the sum, or functional integral, over all possible paths in the constraint surface specified by the (relativistic) Hamiltonian constraint, and each path contributes with a phase identical to the classical action divided by $\hbar$. The timeless path integral manifests the timeless feature as it is completely independent of the parametrization for paths. For the special case that the Hamiltonian constrain…
We pursue the view that quantum theory may be an emergent structure related to large space-time scales. In particular, we consider classical Hamiltonian systems in which the intrinsic proper time evolution parameter is related through a probability distribution to the discrete physical time. This is motivated by studies of ``timeless'' reparametrization invariant models, where discrete physical time has recently been constructed based on coarse-graining local observables. Describing such deterministic classical systems with the help of path-integrals, primordial states can naturally be introdu…
The inherent difficulty in talking about quantum decoherence in the context of quantum cosmology is that decoherence requires subsystems, and cosmology is the study of the whole Universe. Consistent histories gave a possible answer to this conundrum, by phrasing decoherence as loss of interference between alternative histories of closed systems. When one can apply Boolean logic to a set of histories, it is deemed 'consistent'. However, the vast majority of the sets of histories that are merely consistent are blatantly nonclassical in other respects, and further constraints than just consistenc…
The basic tenet of the present work is the assumption of the lack of external and fixed time in the Universe. This assumption is best embodied by general relativity, which replaces the fixed space-time structure with the gravitational field, which is subject to dynamics. The lack of time does not imply the lack of evolution but rather brings to the forefront the role of internal clocks which are some largely arbitrary internal degrees of freedom with respect to which the evolution of timeless systems can be described. We take this idea seriously and try to understand what it implies for quantu…
It is argued that the quantum correlations are not maximally nonlocal to make it possible to control local outcomes from outside spacetime, and quantum mechanics emerges from timeless nonlocality and biased local randomness. This rules out a world described by NL (nonlocal) boxes. A new type of experiments is suggested.
On the path towards quantum gravity, we find friction between temporal relations in quantum mechanics (QM) (where they are fixed and field-independent), and in general relativity (where they are field-dependent and dynamic). This paper aims to attenuate that friction, by encoding gravity in the timeless configuration space of spatial fields with dynamics given by a path integral. The framework demands that boundary conditions for this path integral be uniquely given, but unlike other approaches where they are prescribed --- such as the no-boundary and the tunneling proposals --- here I postula…
Time in quantum mechanics is peculiar: it is an observable that cannot be associated to an Hermitian operator. As a consequence it is impossible to explain dynamics in an isolated system without invoking an external classical clock, a fact that becomes particularly problematic in the context of quantum gravity. An unconventional solution was pioneered by Page and Wootters (PaW) in 1983. PaW showed that dynamics can be an emergent property of the entanglement between two subsystems of a static Universe. In this work we first investigate the possibility to introduce in this framework a Hermitian…
The rules of quantum mechanics require a time coordinate for their formulation. However, a notion of time is in general possible only when a classical spacetime geometry exists. Such a geometry is itself produced by classical matter sources. Thus it could be said that the currently known formulation of quantum mechanics pre-assumes the presence of classical matter fields. A more fundamental formulation of quantum mechanics should exist, which avoids having to use a notion of time. In this paper we discuss as to how such a fundamental formulation could be constructed for single particle, non-re…
Quantum mechanics forces us to reconsider certain aspects of classical causality. The 'central mystery' of quantum mechanics manifests in different ways, depending on the interpretation. This mystery can be formulated as the possibility of selecting part of the initial conditions of the Universe 'retroactively'. This talk aims to show that there is a global, timeless, 'bird's view' of the spacetime, which makes this mystery more reasonable. We will review some well-known quantum effects from the perspective of global consistency.
The quantum measurement problem can be regarded as the tension between the two alternative dynamics prescribed by quantum mechanics: the unitary evolution of the wave function and the state-update rule (or "collapse") at the instant a measurement takes place. The notorious Wigner's friend gedankenexperiment constitutes the paradoxical scenario in which different observers (one of whom is observed by the other) describe one and the same interaction differently, one --the Friend-- via state-update and the other --Wigner-- unitarily. This can lead to Wigner and his friend assigning different prob…
Entanglement is at the core of quantum physics, playing a central role in quantum phenomena involving composite systems. According to the timeless picture of quantum dynamics, entanglement may also be essential for understanding the very origins of dynamical evolution and the flow of time. Within this point of view, the Universe is regarded as a bipartite entity comprising a clock $C$ and a system $R$ (or "rest of the Universe") jointly described by a global stationary state, and the dynamical evolution of $R$ is construed as an emergent phenomena arising from the entanglement between $C$ and …
In this note, I review a recent approach to quantum gravity that "gravitizes" quantum mechanics by emerging geometry and gravity from complex quantum states. Drawing further insights from tensor network toy models in AdS/CFT, I propose that approximate quantum error correction codes, when re-adapted into the aforementioned framework, also has promise in emerging gravity in near-flat geometries.
Beginning with the principle that a closed mechanical composite system is timeless, time can be defined by the regular changes in a suitable position coordinate (clock) in the observing part, when one part of the closed composite observes another part. Translating this scenario into both classical and quantum mechanics allows a transition to be made from a time-independent mechanics for the closed composite to a time-dependent description of the observed part alone. The use of Hamilton- Jacobi theory yields a very close parallel between the derivations in classical and quantum mechanics. The t…
The existence of a hermitian time operator is proposed in the framework of non-relativistic quantum mechanics.The Heisenberg equation of motion is shown to yield constant rate of flow of time.It is shown to yield results consistent with classical expectations,when Bohr's correspondence principle is invoked.Further,it is shown that a massless free particle with non-zero momentum experiences timelessness in its own frame of reference whereas a negatively massive particle perceives forwardness of time.Moreover,application to quantum harmonic oscillators shows instantaneous transition of electrons…
Uncertainty relations play a crucial role in quantum mechanics. Well-defined methods exist for the derivation of such uncertainties for pairs of observables. Other approaches also allow the formulation of time-energy uncertainty relations, even though time is not an operator in standard quantum mechanics. However, in these cases, different approaches are associated with different meanings and interpretations for these relations. The one of interest here revolves around the idea of whether quantum mechanics inherently imposes a fundamental minimum duration for energy measurements with a certain…
It is demonstrated how quantum mechanics emerges from the stochastic dynamics of force-carriers. It is shown that the quantum Moyal equation corresponds to some dynamic correlations between the momentum of a real particle and the position of a virtual particle, which are not present in classical mechanics. The new concept throws light on the physical meaning of quantum theory, showing that the Planck constant square is a second-second cross-cumulant.
Most physics theories are deterministic, with the notable exception of quantum mechanics which, however, comes plagued by the so-called measurement problem. This state of affairs might well be due to the inability of standard mathematics to "speak" of indeterminism, its inability to present us a worldview in which new information is created as time passes. In such a case, scientific determinism would only be an illusion due to the timeless mathematical language scientists use. To investigate this possibility it is necessary to develop an alternative mathematical language that is both powerful …
We address the relation between two apparently distinct problems: The quest for a deeper understanding of the nature of consciousness and the search for time and space as emergent structures in the quantum mechanical world. We also advance a toy-model proposal of emergence of time from a timeless unus mundus quantum-like space by using Aharonov's two state formalism of quantum mechanics. We further speculate on these issues within a quantum cognitive perspective with particular interest in two recent papers on this emerging field of science. One (Aerts et al) entails (as we argue) a panpsychis…
Generalizing de Broglie's hypothesis, we show that the basic quantum behavior of ordinary field theory can be retrieved in a semi-classical and geometrical way from the assumption of intrinsic periodicity of elementary systems. The geometrodynamical description of interactions that arises in from this approach provides an intuitive interpretation of Maldacena's conjecture and it turns out to be of the same type of the one prescribed by general relativity.
Classical mechanics for individual physical systems and quantum mechanics of non-relativistic particles are shown to be exceptional cases of a generalized dynamics described in terms of maps between two manifolds, the source being configuration space. The target space is argued to be 2-dimensional and flat, and their orthogonal directions are physically interpreted. All terms in the map equation have a geometrical meaning in the target space, and the pull-back of its rotational Killing one-form allows the construction of a velocity field in configuration space. Identification of this velocity …
An inhomogeneous Kaluza-Klein compactification to four dimensions, followed by a conformal transformation, results in a system with position dependent mass (PDM). This origin of a PDM is quite different from the condensed matter one. A substantial generalization of a previously studied nonlinear oscillator with variable mass is obtained, wherein the position dependence of the mass of a nonrelativistic particle is due to a dilatonic coupling function emerging from the extra dimension. Previously obtained solutions for such systems can be extended and reinterpreted as nonrelativistic particles i…
The use of the von Neumann entropy in formulating the laws of thermodynamics has recently been challenged. It is associated with the average work whereas the work guaranteed to be extracted in any single run of an experiment is the more interesting quantity in general. We show that an expression that quantifies majorisation determines the optimal guaranteed work. We argue it should therefore be the central quantity of statistical mechanics, rather than the von Neumann entropy. In the limit of many identical and independent subsystems (asymptotic i.i.d) the von Neumann entropy expressions are r…
The ontology emerging from quantum field theory and the results following from Bell's theorems allowed the development of an intuitive picture of the microscopic world described by quantum mechanics, that is, we can say that we understand this theory. However there remain several aspects of it that are still mysterious and require more work on the foundations of quantum mechanics.
Berry phases and gauge structures in parameter spaces of quantum systems are the foundation of a broad range of quantum effects such as quantum Hall effects and topological insulators. The gauge structures of interacting many-body systems, which often present exotic features, are particularly interesting. While quantum systems are intrinsically linear due to the superposition principle, nonlinear quantum mechanics can arise as an effective theory for interacting systems (such as condensates of interacting bosons). Here we show that gauge structures similar to curved spacetime can arise in nonl…
The Weltanschauung emerging from quantum theory clashes profoundly with our classical concepts. Quantum characteristics like superposition, entanglement, wave-particle duality, nonlocality, contextuality are difficult to reconcile with our everyday intuition. In this article I survey some aspects of quantum foundations and discuss intriguing connections with the foundations of mathematics.
We show that the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) is the phenomenological dynamical law of evolution unraveled in the classical limit from a timeless formulation in terms of probability amplitudes conditioned by the values of suitably chosen internal clock variables, thereby unifying the conditional probability interpretation (CPI) and the semiclassical approach for the problem of time in quantum theory. Our formalism stems from an exact factorization of the Hamiltonian eigenfunction of the clock plus system composite, where the clock and system factors play the role of marginal and …
The purpose of physics is to describe nature from elementary particles all the way up to cosmological objects like cluster of galaxies and black holes. Although a unified description for all this spectrum of events is desirable, this would be highly impractical. To not get lost in unnecessary details, effective descriptions are mandatory. Here we analyze the dynamics that may emerge from a full quantum description when one does not have access to all the degrees of freedom of a system. More concretely, we describe the properties of the dynamics that arise from quantum mechanics if one has acce…
In this article, we discuss the identity and indistinguishability of quantum systems and the consequent need to introduce an extra postulate in Quantum Mechanics to correctly describe situations involving indistinguishable particles. This is, for electrons, the Pauli Exclusion Principle, or in general, the Symmetrization Postulate. Then, we introduce fermions and bosons and the distributions respectively describing their statistical behaviour in indistinguishable situations. Following that, we discuss the spin-statistics connection, as well as alternative statistics and experimental evidence f…
Quantum computing is an emerging paradigm that opens a new era for exponential computational speedup. Still, quantum computers have yet to be ready for commercial use. However, it is essential to train and qualify today the workforce that will develop quantum acceleration solutions to get the quantum advantage in the future. This tutorial gives a broad view of quantum computing, abstracting most of the mathematical formalism and proposing a hands-on with the quantum programming language Ket. The target audience is undergraduate and graduate students starting in quantum computing -- no prerequi…
Fast moving classical variables can generate quantum mechanical behavior. We demonstrate how this can happen in a model. The key point is that in classically (ontologically) evolving systems one can still define a conserved quantum energy. For the fast variables, the energy levels are far separated, such that one may assume these variables to stay in their ground state. This forces them to be entangled, so that, consequently, the slow variables are entangled as well. The fast variables could be the vacuum fluctuations caused by unknown super heavy particles. The emerging quantum effects in the…
An analysis is made of the relation between quantum theory and classical mechanics, in the context of the limit $\hbar \to 0$. Several ways in which this limit may be performed are considered. It is shown that Schrödinger's equation for a single particle moving in an external potential $V$ does not, except in special cases, lead, in this limit, to Newton's equation of motion for the particle. This shows that classical mechanics cannot be regarded as emerging from quantum mechanics-at least in this sense-upon straightforward application of the limit $\hbar \to 0$.
In their simplest formulations, classical dynamics is the study of Hamiltonian flows and quantum mechanics that of propagators. Both are linked, and emerge from the datum of a single classical concept, the Hamiltonian function. We study and emphasize the analogies between Hamiltonian flows and quantum propagators; this allows us to verify G. Mackey's observation that quantum mechanics (in its Weyl formulation) is a refinement of Hamiltonian mechanics. We discuss in detail the metaplectic representation, which very explicitly shows the close relationship between classical mechanics and quantum …
Traditionally, finite differences and finite element methods have been by many regarded as the basic tools for obtaining numerical solutions in a variety of quantum mechanical problems emerging in atomic, nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, quantum chemistry, etc. In recent years, however, an alternative technique based on the semi-spectral methods has focused considerable attention. The purpose of this work is first to provide the necessary tools and subsequently examine the efficiency of this method in quantum mechanical applications. Restricting our interest to time independent two-…
Time-dependent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics is featured by a varying inner-product metric and has stimulated a number of interesting studies beyond conventional quantum mechanics. In this paper, we explore geometric aspects of time-dependent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics. We not only find a geometric phase factor emerging naturally from cyclic evolutions of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems, but also formulate a series of differential geometry concepts, including connection, curvature, parallel transport, metric tensor, and quantum geometric tensor. Our findings const…
We show unexpected connection of Set Theoretical Forcing with Quantum Mechanical lattice of projections over some separable Hilbert space. The basic ingredient of the construction is the rule of indistinguishability of Standard and some Nonstandard models of Peano Arithmetic. The ingeneric reals introduced by M. Ozawa will correspond to simultaneous measurement of incompatible observables. We also discuss some results concerning model theoretical analysis of Small Exotic Smooth Structures on topological 4-space. Forcing appears rather naturally in this context and the rule of indistinguishabil…
Classical chimera states are paradigmatic examples of partial synchronization patterns emerging in nonlinear dynamics. These states are characterized by the spatial coexistence of two dramatically different dynamical behaviors, i.e., synchronized and desynchronized dynamics. Our aim in this contribution is to discuss signatures of chimera states in quantum mechanics. We study a network with a ring topology consisting of N coupled quantum Van der Pol oscillators. We describe the emergence of chimera-like quantum correlations in the covariance matrix. Further, we establish the connection of chim…
It is proved in the frame of standard quantum mechanics that selection of different ensembles emerging from measurements of an observable leads to identification of corresponding reductions of the initial, premeasured state. This solves the problem of ``nonlocality`` observed in EPR-Bohm-type experiments.
The development of hybrid quantum systems is central to the advancement of emerging quantum technologies, including quantum information science and quantum-assisted sensing. The recent demonstration of high quality single-crystal diamond resonators has led to significant interest in a hybrid system consisting of nitrogen-vacancy center spins that interact with the resonant phonon modes of a macroscopic mechanical resonator through crystal strain. However, the nitrogen-vacancy spin-strain interaction has not been well characterized. Here, we demonstrate dynamic, strain-mediated coupling of the …
A research program within the scope of theories on "Emergent Quantum Mechanics" is presented, which has gained some momentum in recent years. Via the modeling of a quantum system as a non-equilibrium steady-state maintained by a permanent throughput of energy from the zero-point vacuum, the quantum is considered as an emergent system. We implement a specific "bouncer-walker" model in the context of an assumed sub-quantum statistical physics, in analogy to the results of experiments by Couder's group on a classical wave-particle duality. We can thus give an explanation of various quantum mechan…
The quantum behaviour of mechanical resonators is a new and emerging field driven by recent experiments reaching the quantum ground state. The high frequency, small mass, and large quality-factor of carbon nanotube resonators make them attractive for quantum nanomechanical applications. A common element in experiments achieving the resonator ground state is a second quantum system, such as coherent photons or superconducting device, coupled to the resonators motion. For nanotubes, however, this is a challenge due to their small size. Here, we couple a carbon nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) device…
A general entangled qubit pair is analyzed in the de Broglie-Bohm formalism corresponding to two spin-1/2 quantum rotors. Several spin-spin correlators of Bohm's hidden variables are analyzed numerically and a detailed comparison with results obtained by standard quantum mechanics is outlined. In addition to various expectation values the Bohm interpretation allows also a study of the corresponding probability distributions, which enables a novel understanding of entangled qubit dynamics. In particular, it is shown how the angular momenta of two qubits in this formalism can be viewed geometric…
The ubiquitous ether coming from the ancient times up to middle of the twenty century is replaced by a superfluid quantum space. It represents by itself a Bose-Einstein condensate consisting of enormous amount of virtual particle-antiparticle pairs emerging and disappearing in an infinitely ongoing dance. Flowing of this medium in the non-relativistic limit is described by the modified Navier-Stokes equation along with the continuity equation. The first equation admits the splitting on to two coupled equations. They are the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation and the equation for vorticity. The q…
Using very general and well established ideas of the statistical physics of macroscopic bodies, that is, of those composed of many degrees of freedom, we show how classical behavior of the center of mass motion arises from a fully quantum mechanical description of the dynamics of the whole body. We do not attempt to provide a rigorous proof of the latter statement, but rather, we show or, at least, indicate the hypotheses needed to obtain the purported result. Moreover, we neither attempt to deal with the "most general" physical situation and, instead, we concentrate on a stylized model of a s…
It is shown how to introduce a geometric description of the algebraic approach to the non-relativistic quantum mechanics. It turns out that the GNS representation provides not only symplectic but also Hermitian realization of a `quantum Poisson algebra'. We discuss alternative Hamiltonian structures emerging out of different GNS representations which provide a natural setting for quantum bi-Hamiltonian systems.
