1-1=counterfactual: On the potency and significance of quantum non-events

A. C. Elitzur; E. Cohen

doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

1-1=counterfactual: On the potency and significance of quantum non-events

A. C. Elitzur, E. Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We study the unique role played in quantum mechanics by non-events or 'counterfactuals'. Our earlier analysis of 'quantum oblivion' has revealed some subtle stages in the measurement process, which may end up in self-cancellation. To these findings, we now add two insights derived by two time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics. (i) Like all quantum interactions, the non-event is formed by the conjunction of forward-plus-backward-evolving wave functions. (ii) Then, it is another feature of such dual evolutions, namely the involvement of negative masses and energies, that enables Nature to make some events 'unhappen' while leaving causal traces.

Original language	English
Article number	20150242
Journal	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume	374
Issue number	2068
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0242
State	Published - 28 May 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Counterfactuals
Interaction-free measurement
Non-events
Quantum oblivion
Time symmetry

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Engineering
General Physics and Astronomy
General Mathematics

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https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0242

Cite this

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1-1=counterfactual: On the potency and significance of quantum non-events

Abstract

Keywords

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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