Skip to main content
Log in

Consistent Quantum Realism: A Reply to Bassi and Ghirardi

  • Commentary
  • Published:
Journal of Statistical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A recent claim by Bassi and Ghirardi that the consistent (decoherent) histories approach cannot provide a realistic interpretation of quantum theory is shown to be based upon a misunderstanding of the single-framework rule: they have replaced the correct rule with a principle which directly contradicts it. It is their assumptions, not those of the consistent histories approach, which lead to a logical contradiction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

REFERENCES

  1. R. B. Griffiths, J. Stat. Phys. 36:219 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. Omnès, J. Stat. Phys. 53:893 (1988); Rev. Mod. Phys. 64:339 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. Gell-Mann and J. B. Hartle in Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information, W. Zurek, ed. (Addison Wesley, Reading, 1990), p. 425; Phys. Rev. D 47:3345 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  4. R. Omnès, The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1994).

    Google Scholar 

  5. R. B. Griffiths, Phys. Rev. A 54:2759 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  6. R. B. Griffiths, Phys. Rev. A 57:1604 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. Omnès, Understanding Quantum Mechanics (Princeton University Press, 1999).

  8. E. P. Wigner, Am. J. Phys. 31:6 (1963); reprinted in J. A. Wheeler and W. H. Zurek, eds., Quantum Theory and Measurement (Princeton University Press, 1983), p. 324.

  9. R. B. Griffiths and R. Omnès, Phys. Today 52:26 (Aug. 1999).

    Google Scholar 

  10. P. Mittelstaedt, The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Process (Cambridge University Press, 1998). See in particular Sections 4.3, 5.1, and 5.2.

  11. R. B. Griffiths, Am. J. Phys. 55:11 (1987); Phys. Rev. A 60:5 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  12. P. R. Holland, The Quantum Theory of Motion (Cambridge University Press, 1993); D. Bohm and B. J. Hiley, The Undivided Universe (Routledge, 1993); K. Berndl, M. Daumer, D. Dü rr, S. Goldstein, and N. Zanghí, Nuovo Cimento B 110:737 (1995).

  13. G. C. Ghirardi, A. Rimini, and T. Weber, Phys. Rev. D 34:470 (1986); P. Pearle, Phys. Rev. A 39:2277 (1989); G. C. Ghirardi, P. Pearle, and A. Rimini, Phys. Rev. A 42:78 (1990); G. C. Ghirardi, R. Grassi, and F. Benatti, Found. Phys. 25:5 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  14. S. Goldstein, Phys. Today 51, March, 1998, p. 42 and April, 1998, p. 38; also see the Letters section of Phys. Today 52, February, 1999.

  15. A. Kent, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81:1982 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Bassi and G. C. Ghirardi, Phys. Lett. A 257:247 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. Bassi and G. C. Ghirardi, Decoherent histories and realism, J. Stat. Phys. 98:457 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. Bassi and G. C. Ghirardi, Phys. Lett. A 265:153 (2000). (This is a reply to ref. 21.)

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. S. Bell, Rev. Mod. Phys. 38:447 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  20. S. Kochen and E. P. Specker, J. Math. Mech. 17:59 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  21. R. B. Griffiths, Phys. Lett. A 256:12 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  22. W. Feller, An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications, third ed. (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1968), Vol. I. See Section 1 of Chap. I.

    Google Scholar 

  23. J. von Neumann, Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1955), Chap. III, Section 5.

    Google Scholar 

  24. G. Birkhoff and J. von Neumann, Annals of Math. 37:823 (1936).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Griffiths, R.B. Consistent Quantum Realism: A Reply to Bassi and Ghirardi. Journal of Statistical Physics 99, 1409–1425 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018601225280

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018601225280

Navigation