InterviewSolution
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So Quantum Physics Must Use Probability Theory? |
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Answer» Yes, but it USES a “built in” probability theory which is different from the classical one. There is actually a mathematical difference between probabilities arising from lack of knowledge and intrinsic UNCERTANITY. When we use classical probability theory, we tacitly assume that at each experimental round, each MEASURABLE quantity (described in the theory by a random variable) assumes a value — independently from the fact whether we have measured it or not. In reality, at each experimental round we can only measure some QUANTITIES. It turns out that the statistics emerging from experimental data actually contradicts the assumption that at each experimental round, all quantities had a value (and that only we did not know them). On the other hand, the probability theory used in quantum physics does not make such assumptions and in fact the predictions made by using quantum physics are in perfect agreement with experimental data. From the point of view of ABSTRACT mathematics, the main difference is that the event-lattice used in classical probability theory is distributive, whereas the one used by quantum physics isn’t. Yes, but it uses a “built in” probability theory which is different from the classical one. There is actually a mathematical difference between probabilities arising from lack of knowledge and intrinsic uncertanity. When we use classical probability theory, we tacitly assume that at each experimental round, each measurable quantity (described in the theory by a random variable) assumes a value — independently from the fact whether we have measured it or not. In reality, at each experimental round we can only measure some quantities. It turns out that the statistics emerging from experimental data actually contradicts the assumption that at each experimental round, all quantities had a value (and that only we did not know them). On the other hand, the probability theory used in quantum physics does not make such assumptions and in fact the predictions made by using quantum physics are in perfect agreement with experimental data. From the point of view of abstract mathematics, the main difference is that the event-lattice used in classical probability theory is distributive, whereas the one used by quantum physics isn’t. |
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