Recently, several authors have criticized time-symmetrized quantum theory originated by the work of Aharonov et al. (1964). The core of this criticism was the proof, which appeared in various forms, showing that counterfactual interpretation of time-symmetrized quantum theory cannot be reconciled with the standard quantum theory. I argue here that the apparent contradiction appears due to inappropriate usage of traditional time asymmetric approach to counterfactuals, and that the contradiction disappears when the problem is analyzed in terms of time-symmetric counterfactuals. I analyze various aspects of time-symmetry of quantum theory and defend the time-symmetrized formalism.
Recently, several authors have criticized the time-symmetrized quantum theory originated by the work of Aharonov et al. (1964). The core of this criticism was a proof, appearing in various forms, which showed that the counterfactual interpretation of time-symmetrized quantum theory cannot be reconciled with standard quantum theory. I, (Vaidman, 1996a, 1997) have argued that the apparent contradiction is due to a logical error and introduced consistent time-symmetrized quantum counterfactuals. Here I repeat my arguments defending the time-symmetrized quantum theory and reply to the criticism of…
A brief review of the time-symmetrized quantum formalism originated by Aharonov, Bergmann and Lebowitz is presented. Symmetry of various measurements under the time reversal is analyzed. Time-symmetrized counterfactuals are introduced. It is argued that the time-symmetrized formalism demonstrates novel profound features of quantum theory and that recent criticism of the formalism is unfounded.
Recently, several authors have criticized the time-symmetrized quantum theory originated by the work of Aharonov et al. (1964). The core of this criticism was a proof, appearing in various forms, which showed that the counterfactual interpretation of time-symmetrized quantum theory cannot be reconciled with standard quantum theory. I argue here that the apparent contradiction is due to a logical error. I analyze the concept of counterfactuals in quantum theory and introduce time-symmetrized counterfactuals. These counterfactuals do not lead to any contradiction with the predictions of quantum …
Counterfactuals in quantum theory are briefly reviewed and it is argued that they are very different from counterfactuals considered in the general philosophical literature. The issue of time symmetry of quantum counterfactuals is considered and a novel time-symmetric definition of quantum counterfactuals is proposed. This definition is applied for analyzing several controversies related to quantum counterfactuals.
The symmetrized product for quantum mechanical observables is defined. It is seen as consisting of the ordinary multiplication and the application of the superoperator that orders the operators of coordinate and momentum. This superoperator is defined in a way that allows obstruction free quantization when the observables are considered from the point of view of the algebra. Then, the operatorial version of the Poisson bracket is defined. It is shown that it has all properties of the Lie bracket and that it can substitute the commutator in the von Neumann equation.
Variance is a ubiquitous quantity in quantum information theory. Given a basis, we consider the averaged variances of a fixed diagonal observable in a pure state under all possible permutations on the components of the pure state and call it the symmetrized variance. Moreover we work out the analytical expression of the symmetrized variance and find that such expression is in the factorized form where two factors separately depends on the diagonal observable and quantum state. By shifting the factor corresponding to the diagonal observable, we introduce the notion named the standard symmetrize…
Recent authors have raised objections to the counterfactual interpretation of the Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz (ABL) rule of time symmetrized quantum theory (TSQT). I distinguish between two different readings of the ABL rule, counterfactual and non-counterfactual, and confirm that TSQT advocate L. Vaidman is employing the counterfactual reading to which these authors object. Vaidman has responded to the objections by proposing a new kind of time-symmetrized counterfactual, which he has defined in two different ways. It is argued that neither definition succeeds in overcoming the objections, exc…
In this paper, we give a quantum circuit that calculates symmetrized functions. Our algorithm applies the original Grover's algorithm or a variant thereof such as AFGA (adaptive fixed point Grover's algorithm). Our algorithm uses AFGA in conjunction with two new techniques we call "targeting two hypotheses" and "blind targeting". Suppose AFGA drives the starting state $|s\rangle$ to the target state $|t\rangle$. When targeting two hypotheses, $|t\rangle$ is a superposition $a_0|0\rangle + a_1|1\rangle$ of two orthonormal states or hypotheses $|0\rangle$ and $|1\rangle$. When targeting blindly,…
Recently Shafiee, Jafar-Aghdami, and Golshani (Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 37, 316--329) took issue with certain aspects of the Pondicherry interpretation of quantum mechanics, especially its definitions and uses of "objective probability," its conception of space, the role it assigns to the macroworld in a universe governed by quantum laws, and its claim for the completeness of quantum mechanics. These issues are addressed.
Quantum correlations, in particular those, which enable to violate a Bell inequality \cite{BELL}, open a way to advantage in certain communication tasks. However, the main difficulty in harnessing quantumness is its fragility to, e.g, noise or loss of particles. We study the persistency of Bell correlations of GHZ based mixtures and Dicke states. For the former, we consider quantum communication complexity reduction (QCCR) scheme, and propose new Bell inequalities (BIs), which can be used in that scheme for higher persistency in the limit of large number of particles $N$. In case of Dicke stat…
Twisted rapid passage is a type of non-adiabatic rapid passage that generates controllable quantum interference effects that were first observed experimentally in 2003. It is shown that twisted rapid passage sweeps can be used to implement a universal set of quantum gates that operate with high-fidelity. The gate set consists of the Hadamard and NOT gates, together with variants of the phase, pi/8, and controlled-phase gates. For each gate g in the universal set, sweep parameter values are provided which numerical simulations indicate will produce a unitary operation that approximates g with e…
This paper is the answer to the paper by Kastner [Found. Phys., to be published, quant-ph/9807037] in which she continued the criticism of the counterfactual usage of the Aharonov-Bergman-Lebowitz rule in the framework of the time-symmetrized quantum theory, in particular, by analyzing the three-box ``paradox''. It is argued that the criticism is not sound. Paradoxical features of the three-box example has been explained. It is explained that the elements of reality in the framework of time-symmetrized quantum theory are counterfactual statements and, therefore, even conflicting elements of re…
The transit times are obtained for a symmetrized (two identical bosons) and an antisymmetrized (two identical fermions) quantum colliding configuration. Considering two identical particles symmetrically impinging on a one-dimensional barrier, we demonstrate that the phase time and the dwell time give connected results where, however, the exact position of the scattered particles is explicitly determined by the phase time (group delay). For the antisymmetrized wave function configuration, an unusual effect of {\em accelerated} transmission is clearly identified in a simultaneous tunneling of tw…
A recent argument, attributed to Masanes, is claimed to show that the assumption that quantum measurements have definite, objective outcomes, is incompatible with quantum predictions. In this work, a detailed examination of the argument shows that it has a much narrower field of application than previously recognized. In particular, it is found: i) that the argument only applies to hidden-variable models with a particular feature; and ii) that such a feature is not present in most hidden-variable models, including pilot-wave theory. It is concluded that the argument does not succeed in calling…
It has been argued [T. Rudolph and B.C. Sanders, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 87}, 077903 (2001)] that continuous-variable quantum teleportation at optical frequencies has not been achieved because the source used (a laser) was not `truly coherent'. Van Enk, and Fuchs [Phys. Rev. Lett, {\bf 88}, 027902 (2002)], while arguing against Rudolph and Sanders, also accept that an `absolute phase' is achievable, even if it has not been achieved yet. I will argue to the contrary that `true coherence' or `absolute phase' is always illusory, as the concept of absolute time (at least for frequencies beyond direc…
Fourier Symmetrization for Geometric Quantum Machine Learning
Laboratory of Signals and Systems, CentraleSupélec, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University（信号与系统实验室，中央苏佩莱克学院，法国国家科学研究中心，巴黎萨克雷大学）；Fédération de Mathématiques de CentraleSupélec, CentraleSupélec, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University（中央苏佩莱克数学联合会，中央苏佩莱克学院，法国国家科学研究中心，巴黎萨克雷大学）
Symmetrized Block-Product Periodic Marginals in Infinite Translation-Invariant Quantum Chains
Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China（电子科技大学基础与前沿研究院）；Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Quantum Physics and Photonic Quantum Information (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)（电子科技大学量子物理与光量子信息教育部重点实验室）
The ABL rule is derived as a tool of standard quantum mechanics. The ontological significance of the existence of objective probabilities is discussed. Objections by Kastner and others to counterfactual uses of the ABL rule are refuted. Metaphysical presumptions leading to such views as Kastner is defending in her Comment are examined and shown to be unwarranted.
It is widely accepted that a Born probability of 1 is sufficient for the existence of a corresponding element of reality. Recently Vaidman has extended this idea to the ABL probabilities of the time-symmetrized version of quantum mechanics originated by Aharonov, Bergmann, and Lebowitz. Several authors have objected to Vaidman's time-symmetrized elements of reality without casting doubt on the widely accepted sufficiency condition for `ordinary' elements of reality. In this paper I show that while the proper truth condition for a quantum counterfactual is an ABL probability of 1, neither a Bor…
Noncommuting observables cannot be simultaneously measured, however, under local hidden variable models, they must simultaneously hold premeasurement values, implying the existence of a joint probability distribution. We study the joint distributions of noncommuting observables on qubits, with possible criteria of positivity and the Fréchet bounds limiting the joint probabilities, concluding that the latter may be negative. We use symmetrization, justified heuristically and then more carefully via the Moyal characteristic function, to find the quantum operator corresponding to the product of n…
We introduce a family of highly symmetric bipartite quantum states in arbitrary dimensions. It consists of all states that are invariant under local phase rotations and local cyclic permutations of the basis. We solve the separability problem for a subspace of these states and show that a sizable part of the family is bound entangled. We also calculate some of the Schmidt numbers for the family in $d = 3$, thereby characterizing the dimensionality of entanglement. Our results allow us to estimate entanglement properties of arbitrary states, as general states can be symmetrized to the considere…
Three arguments based on the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) proof of the nonexistence of local hidden variables are presented. The first is a description of a simple game which a team that uses the GHZ method will always win. The second uses counterfactuals in an attempt to show that quantum theory is nonlocal in a stronger sense than is implied by the nonexistence of local hidden variables and the third describes peculiar features of time-symmetrized counterfactuals in quantum theory.
For quantum systems with externally time-varied Hamiltonians a definition of operators of system's energy change rate (work per unit time) and entropy production observables is suggested and discussed in the context of rigorous statistical equalities (generalized fluctuation-dissipation relations) under the Jordan-symmetrized chronological operator ordering rule.
We consider entanglement in a system of fixed number of identical particles. Since any operation should be symmetrized over all the identical particles and there is the precondition that the spatial wave functions overlap, the meaning of identical-particle entanglement is fundamentally different from that of distinguishable particles. The identical-particle counterpart of the Schmidt basis is shown to be the single-particle basis in which the one-particle reduced density matrix is diagonal. But it does not play a special role in the issue of entanglement, which depends on the single-particle b…
In this paper we present the two-state vector formalism of quantum mechanics. It is a time-symmetrized approach to standard quantum theory particularly helpful for the analysis of experiments performed on pre- and post-selected ensembles. Several peculiar effects which naturally arise in this approach are considered. In particular, the concept of ``weak measurements'' (standard measurements with weakening of the interaction) is discussed in depth revealing a very unusual but consistent picture. Also, a design of a gedanken experiment which implements a kind of quantum ``time machine'' is descr…
A currently discussed interpretation of quantum theory, Time-Symmetrized Quantum Theory, makes certain claims about the properties of systems between pre- and post- selection measurements. These claims are based on a counterfactual usage of the Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz (ABL) rule for calculating the probabilities of measurement outcomes between such measurements. It has been argued by several authors that the counterfactual usage of the ABL rule is, in general, incorrect. This paper examines what might appear to be a loophole in those arguments and shows that this apparent loophole cannot be…
In the study of d-dimensional quantum channels $(d \geq 2)$, an assumption which is not very restrictive, and which has a natural physical interpretation, is that the corresponding Kraus operators form a representation of a Lie algebra. Physically, this is a symmetry algebra for the interaction Hamiltonian. This paper begins a systematic study of channels defined by representations; the famous Werner-Holevo channel is one element of this infinite class. We show that the channel derived from the defining representation of SU(n) is a depolarizing channel for all $n$, but for most other represent…
Here we present the time-bidirectional state formalism (TBSF) unifying in a general manner the standard quantum mechanical formalism with no postselection and the time-symmetrized two-state (density) vector formalism, which deals with postselected states. In the proposed approach, a quantum particle's state, called a time-bidirectional state, is equivalent to a joined state of two particles propagating in opposite time directions. For a general time-bidirectional state, we derive outcome probabilities of generalized measurements, as well as mean and weak values of Hermitian observables. We als…
One of the remarkable notions in the recent development of quantum physics is the weak value related to weak measurements. We emulate it as a two-time conditional expectation in a classical stochastic model. We use the well known symmetrized form of the master equation, which is formally equivalent to the wave equation in quantum mechanics apart from the fact that wave functions are always real. The origin of the unusual behaviors of the weak value such as the negative probability and the abnormal enhancement of some expectations becomes clearer in the present case, where the two-time conditio…
Repeated measurements as typically occurring in two- or multi-time correlators rely on von Neumann's projection postulate, telling how to restart the system after an intermediate measurement. We invoke the principle of deferred measurement to describe an alternative procedure where co-evolving quantum memories extract system information through entanglement, combined with a final readout of the memories described by Born's rule. The new approach to repeated quantum measurements respects the unitary evolution of quantum mechanics during intermediate times, unifies the treatment of strong and we…
Path Integral Approach to Quantum Fisher Information
Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen（蒂宾根大学）；Newcastle University（纽卡斯尔大学）；Lancaster University（兰卡斯特大学）；Universitat de València（瓦伦西亚大学）；CSIC–Universitat de València（西班牙国家研究委员会-瓦伦西亚大学）
