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Time-Symmetric Quantum Mechanics

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A time-symmetric formulation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics is developed by applying two consecutive boundary conditions onto solutions of a time- symmetrized wave equation. From known probabilities in ordinary quantum mechanics, a time-symmetric parameter P0 is then derived that properly weights the likelihood of any complete sequence of measurement outcomes on a quantum system. The results appear to match standard quantum mechanics, but do so without requiring a time-asymmetric collapse of the wavefunction upon measurement, thereby realigning quantum mechanics with an important fundamental symmetry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, San José State University, San José, CA, 95192-0106, USA

    K. B. Wharton

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  1. K. B. Wharton
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Correspondence to K. B. Wharton.

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Communicated by Alwyn van der Merwe

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Wharton, K.B. Time-Symmetric Quantum Mechanics. Found Phys 37, 159–168 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-006-9089-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-006-9089-1

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