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Can the Past Be Changed?

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Abstract

The paper shows that the past, “history” in a non-technical sense, can be changed in quantum mechanics. The first part of the paper reviews Deutsch's analysis in his paper of 1991. It is demonstrated that Deutsch assumes the existence of a multiplicity of essentially classical worlds. Such a multiplicity of worlds would allow the past to be changed in classical mechanics. It is argued that the existence of multiple “classical” worlds is not required by quantum mechanics. It is then shown that it is possible to change the past in conventional quantum mechanics even without the assumption of a multiplicity of worlds.

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  1. Research Development and Statistics Directorate, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AT, U.K.

    Peter G. Grove

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  1. Peter G. Grove
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Grove, P.G. Can the Past Be Changed?. Foundations of Physics 32, 567–587 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015084316226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015084316226

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